Following two trials lasting a total of 15 weeks, 9 defendants were convicted of 42 serious sexual offences including conspiracy to rape, rape and sexual assaults. A further defendant pleaded guilty at an earlier stage.
Eight victims gave evidence during the trials which were heard at Minshull Street Crown Court. Reporting restrictions meant that the facts of the case (“Operation Doublet”) could not be published until the conclusion of the second trial.
The ten defendants were sentenced to a combined total of 127 years’ imprisonment.
Neil and Charlotte were instructed by Alison Cartmel of the CPS complex case unit, Manchester. Both Neil and Charlotte are instructed to prosecute a third trial of seven further defendants from the Rochdale area in September 2016 with an estimate of 10 weeks.
More coverage here: BBC News