Trio jailed for photographed rape

Three men who raped a 16-year-old girl as the attack was photographed on a mobile phone have been sent to a young offenders institute.

Bolton Crown Court heard the victim went to an address in Rochdale after receiving a phone call in May 2008.

She drank whisky and was then raped by the men as she became incapacitated.

Ajmal Afridi, 19, of Boundary Street, Imtiaz Syed, 20, of Ellesmere Street, and Tayyab Hussain, 19, of Henry Street, all Rochdale, admitted rape.

Afridi was sentenced to six years in a young offenders institute. He raped the girl twice and sexually assaulted her.

Syed received the same sentence after he admitted one count of rape and one of incident assault.

Hussain, who has learning difficulties, was ordered to spend three years in a young offenders institute after he pleaded guilty to one count of rape.

The girl's frantic mother called her daughter's phone only for it to be answered by the men with the faint sound of her voice in the background, the court heard.

Judge William Morris said there was no evidence to suggest the girl was forced to drink the alcohol or that she was lured to the house.

In a statement, the girl said: "I feel violated, my self-esteem is low. This has had a devastating affect on my family."

The men's legal representatives said all three regretted their actions.

Speaking after the case, Det Con Charles Stewart, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "These three animals have subjected the victim to the most appalling and demeaning crime."

Two other defendants, Mustafa Arshad, 17, and Mohammed Usman Raja, 21, were sentenced in October for their part in the attack.

Arshad admitted taking two photos of the abuse on his mobile phone and aiding and abetting sexual assault.

He was sentenced to eight months in a young offenders institute.

Raja was sentenced to six months in a young offenders institute after he pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by providing a false alibi for Syed.