Nisar Hussain

Hussain was a taxi driver from Rochdale who knew Mohammed Shahzad. According to the CPS, after Shahzad began exploiting Girl A at the age of 13, she was taken to isolated locations and passed to other taxi drivers known to him, including Naheem Akram and Nisar Hussain, who sexually assaulted and raped her. ITV reported an incident presented at trial in which Girl A had been given alcohol and drugs and then filmed during sexual abuse in the back of Hussain's taxi; the footage was subsequently sent to schoolmates and family members. In 2023, Hussain was initially charged with three offences including making indecent images of a child and trafficking persons within the UK for sexual exploitation. The final convictions in June 2025 were, however, specifically limited to two counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration; the initial charges relating to images or trafficking must therefore not be presented as final convictions. He was sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment on 1 October 2025. During the investigation, he denied the rapes and claimed not to know Girl A personally.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Directly implicated

In January 2025, before the jury was sworn in, Nisar Hussain, Mohammed Shahzad and Naheem Akram were remanded in custody after their bail was revoked. The court heard that police had received intelligence suggesting that the three taxi drivers, who were born in Rochdale, were planning to leave the United Kingdom and had reportedly already paid a deposit for their transport. All three disputed the allegation. Judge Jonathan Seely nevertheless considered that the court could not risk their absconding as well, given that Kasir Bashir had already disappeared.

State of the evidence

Documented

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Directly implicated

Hussain, Shahzad and Akram were remanded in custody before the jury was empanelled, following police intelligence indicating that they had allegedly prepared to leave the United Kingdom and paid a deposit for transport.

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Documented

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Accused

In the account reported at trial, Hussain denied raping the victim and stated that he did not know her personally, while saying that he knew her name because of other investigations involving men known to him.

State of the evidence

Documented

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Directly implicated

The jury unanimously found Nisar Hussain guilty of two counts of rape against Girl A.

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Accused

Hussain was also convicted of one count of assault by penetration.

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Accused

Hussain was sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment for his three offences.

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Accused

GMP announced three charges against Hussain, including making indecent images of a child and trafficking persons within the UK for sexual exploitation. At his first court appearance, he indicated an intention to plead not guilty and was released on bail.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Accused

Nisar Hussain was among the taxi drivers to whom Girl A was taken after being groomed by Shahzad. The CPS established that Hussain had sexually abused and raped her; he was ultimately convicted of two counts of rape.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

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Accused