A mother who wanted to kill herself following her abuse by the ringleader of the Rotherham sex-grooming gang has said she finally feels free from his clutches after he was locked up for 35 years.
Jessica*, now 30, was targeted by Arshid Hussain when she was just 14 years old and he was 24.
She became pregnant by him twice, suffered mental abuse and was physically assaulted. Jessica was also forced into carrying out petty crime after being picked up by Hussain, who was known as
‘Ash’ and ‘mad Ash’ in the northern town.
Along with his brothers Basharat and Bannaras Hussain, their uncle and two white women, Hussain sexually exploited 15 victims, aged between 11 and 21, over a period of 16 years from 1997.
The Hussain brothers were handed hefty sentences last Friday (26).
Nazir Afzal, who was the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) lead on child sex abuse and violence against women and girls, told Eastern Eye on Monday (29) that when he left the CPS last year, he
knew of at least 200 Asian suspects nationwide who were being investigated for street grooming.
“You can see this is an issue that needs to be at the top of the agenda for our community, but it is not,” he said.
In an interview with Eastern Eye, Jessica said she felt determined to “move on and have a better future”, despite being plagued by an eating disorder and spending years being blamed for her exploitation.
“I now feel free of him even though I’m still on a journey. I hope other people can turn their lives around like I have,” she said.
The mother of two was one of the 1,400 children groomed by gangs of mainly British Pakistani men and often subjected to degrading and violent acts.
Police, social workers and council leaders were all severely criticised for failing to prevent the abuse. An inquiry revealing the scale of the heinous crimes said officials had not acted on evidence of abuse partly out of fear of being labelled racist.
Jessica spent two days giving evidence at the trial and then attended the sentencing, which she said was incredibly emotional and tense.
“About three years ago I completely hit rock bottom. I became suicidal and I got diagnosed with major depression. I felt so disgusting and I felt like a freak. I felt dirty, I thought I was never going
to be normal.”
When she was 14, Jessica believed she was in a relationship with Ash and wanted to settle down with him. It only dawned on her a few years later that when she saw him every day over a period of two years, she was being groomed.
“There were so many girls coming up to me saying ‘he’s my boyfriend’, which he denied. He said they were exes and jealous ‘because I’m with you now’. He only ever admitted (to sleeping with)
one girl when he was with me and that was my best friend. I didn’t see that she was a victim as well.”
Hussain lured Jessica in with his flashy car and designer clothes, showering her with gifts and compliments. On the first night they met, she was taken to a house where six men were present and
was later made to have sex with Hussain.
When she first became pregnant, within four months of meeting him, Hussain told her to abort the baby because he was worried he would get into trouble. He was married, something Jessica
said she did not know, and had abused seven girls before her.
Jessica said she had a “really good childhood” but became a runaway troubled teenager after meeting Ash. She was placed into care by her parents in an attempt to separate the couple, but her
foster carer allowed him to continue seeing her.
She has raised concerns that the individual involved is still looking after children. After Ash became controlling and aggressive Jessica went to the police, but she was not believed.
“I was always blamed. I was never treated as his victim, I was always told I was his mistress, his equal, and a little criminal,” she told Eastern Eye.
“When you get told that all the time, that’s what you start to believe. I believed that until three years ago, that’s why it took me so long to come to terms with it. The vast majority of people in
Rotherham were blaming me and when you’ve got that amount of people constantly putting you down, you start to believe that.”
She said she is now on a mission to help other girls come forward and report abuse.
“I want other girls to think if Jess and the other girls can get justice after everything that they have been through, then so can we. I had people believe in me and it’s changed my life. I want the same for other people, for them to get the support they deserve. Speaking out made me feel really proud of myself.”
Basharat and Bannaras Hussain were jailed for 25 years and 19 years, respectively. Their uncle Qurban Ali was jailed for 10 years.
Karen MacGregor, who offered young women accommodation at her home and then expected them to have sex with men, was handed a 13 year sentence.
A sixth defendant, Shelley Davies, will serve an 18-month suspended jail term.
One report last month said the Pakistani origin abusers will be stripped off their British citizenship and deported once they have completed their jail terms.
Sentencing them at Sheffield crown court, judge Sarah Wright said: “The impact of your offending upon the victims, their families and indeed the wider community has been devastating.
“Their childhood and adolescence can never be reclaimed. Each has suffered immense psychological harm.”
Jessica said: “I feel like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I’ve got an eating disorder, I’ve had that for years. He (Ash) had this obsession with food, a lot of things I weren’t allowed
to eat because he were Muslim, but he was constantly trying to feed me. I found that quite strange. I also want to spend time with my kids
and my campaign work.”
Since the scandal hit the headlines two years ago, she has met prime minister David Cameron and urged him to provide emergency counselling services for abuse victims who are currently on a
waiting list for therapy. Jessica also wants the criminal records of grooming victims, who are often charged with petty crime through their association with their abusers, to be expunged as it
can prevent them from gaining employment.
“A victim should never ever be blamed or prosecuted for their own abuse. It affects them for the rest of their life and it makes it harder for people to have a future. There will be so many people out
there who have criminal records because of the abuse,” she said.
A cross-party group has been formed to tackle the deep divisions that sparked last summer's riots across England. The new commission will be led by former Tory minister Sir Sajid Javid and ex-Labour MP Jon Cruddas.
The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion has backing from both prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. It brings together 19 experts from different political parties and walks of life.
It was set up following the violent unrest that broke out in 27 towns and cities after three young girls were killed in Southport last July. False claims about the attacker's identity spread rapidly on social media, helping to fuel the disorder.
Sir Sajid warned that Britain has become a "tinderbox of division" due to years of neglect. He said governments have only acted when tensions boil over, rather than dealing with the root problems. "We are more disconnected as a country than at any point in our modern history," he told reporters. "There is a pandemic of loneliness that has spread across the country."
According to Javid, who served as communities secretary, home secretary and chancellor in the cabinets of David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson, social cohesion had been treated as a “second tier” issue by successive governments.
“Communal life in Britain is under threat like never before and intervention is urgently needed," he told the Telegraph. "There have been long-term, chronic issues undermining connections within our communities for several decades now, such as the degradation of local infrastructure from the local pub to churches, the weakening of family units, growing inequality, declining trust in institutions and persistent neglect from policy-makers."
He pointed to several factors making the situation worse, including high levels of immigration that haven't been properly managed, rising cost of living pressures, social media spreading extremist views, declining trust in public institutions, and the breakdown of local community spaces like pubs and churches.
Cruddas, who represented Dagenham for over 20 years, said the commission would listen directly to people across Britain rather than impose solutions from Westminster.
Over the next 12 months, the panel will examine what's driving people apart and develop practical recommendations for government. The group includes former West Midlands mayor Sir Andy Street, ex-Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, and counter-extremism expert Dame Sara Khan.
The commission is being supported by the Together Coalition, which was founded by Brendan Cox after his wife, MP Jo Cox, was murdered by a far-right extremist in 2016.
Sir Sajid remains optimistic about Britain's future, saying the country has "phenomenal attributes" to overcome its challenges. The commission aims to create "a vision for communities that all British citizens can buy into."
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Masum was seen on CCTV trying to steer the pram away and, when she refused to go with him, stabbed her multiple times before walking away and boarding a bus. (Photo: West Yorkshire Police)
A MAN who stabbed his estranged wife to death in Bradford in front of their baby has been convicted of murder.
Habibur Masum, 26, attacked 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter in broad daylight on April 6, 2024, stabbing her more than 25 times while she pushed their seven-month-old son in a pram. The baby was not harmed.
Bradford Crown Court heard that Akter had been living in a refuge since January after Masum threatened her with a knife at their home in Oldham. Masum tracked her using her phone location and confronted her after she left the refuge to meet a friend, believing he was in Spain.
Masum was seen on CCTV trying to steer the pram away and, when she refused to go with him, stabbed her multiple times before walking away and boarding a bus. He was arrested three days later in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Kulsuma Aktergetty images
Masum, of Leamington Avenue, Burnley, had admitted manslaughter and possession of a knife but denied murder. He was found guilty of murder, stalking, making threats to kill, and assault by beating.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the attack was “planned and premeditated”. West Yorkshire Police described it as a “brutal” daylight attack. Det Ch Insp Stacey Atkinson said Ms Akter “should have been safe”.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct found no breach of standards by officers involved prior to her death. Masum is due to be sentenced on 22 July.
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Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
INDIA has declined a request from the United Nations aviation agency to allow one of its investigators to observe the probe into the Air India crash that killed 260 people in Ahmedabad on June 12, Reuters reported, citing two senior sources familiar with the matter.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had offered to provide assistance by sending one of its investigators, following the crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner earlier this month. It was an unusual move, as ICAO typically deploys investigators only upon request from the country leading the investigation.
In this case, ICAO had asked Indian authorities to allow the investigator already present in India to join the probe as an observer, the sources told Reuters. However, Indian officials refused the offer. Times Now was the first to report this development on Thursday.
The civil aviation ministry said on Thursday that the flight recorder data was downloaded around two weeks after the crash.
Some safety experts had earlier raised concerns over the delay in the analysis of the black box data and a lack of information on the progress of the probe. The first combined black box unit was recovered on June 13, and a second set was found on June 16.
It is still unclear whether the black boxes are being read in India or the US. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also participating in the investigation. The Indian government has held only one press conference so far, where no questions were taken.
According to global aviation norms under "Annex 13", a decision on where to read the flight recorders should be made immediately if the information obtained could help prevent similar accidents in the future.
An unnamed aviation ministry official said earlier this week that the ministry is "following all the ICAO protocols." The official also said that media representatives have been sharing updates on major developments.
Most air accidents result from a combination of factors. A preliminary report is expected within about 30 days of the crash.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Wintour’s style of leadership earned her the nickname “Nuclear Wintour”
Anna Wintour steps down as editor of US Vogue after 37 years
She will remain Vogue’s global editorial director and hold senior roles at Condé Nast
Wintour transformed US Vogue into a global fashion authority
The 75-year-old has received numerous honours, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom
End of an era at US Vogue
Anna Wintour has stepped down as the editor of US Vogue, bringing to a close a 37-year tenure that redefined the publication and saw her become one of the most influential figures in global fashion.
The announcement was made on Thursday (26 June) during a staff meeting in New York. Wintour, 75, will no longer oversee the day-to-day editorial operations of Vogue’s US edition. However, she will continue to serve as Vogue’s global editorial director and Condé Nast’s chief content officer, maintaining senior leadership roles across the company.
A transformative legacy
Wintour took the helm of US Vogue in 1988, inheriting a relatively conservative magazine. She swiftly transformed it into a trendsetting, authoritative voice in fashion. Under her leadership, the publication became known for its iconic covers, high-end photography, and ability to shape careers in the fashion industry.
With extensive budgets and strong advertising support, Vogue became a global fashion flagship, influencing designers, celebrities, and brands worldwide.
Wintour’s style of leadership earned her the nickname “Nuclear Wintour” for her decisiveness, with some reports noting her tendency to make bold editorial decisions without extensive discussion. Her distinctive bob haircut and ever-present sunglasses made her a recognisable front-row figure at fashion weeks around the world.
Beyond the magazine
The British-born editor rose to wider public fame as the inspiration behind the character Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada — both the 2003 novel and the 2006 film adaptation. While Wintour rarely commented on the portrayal, she acknowledged the attention it brought, most recently during the launch of a stage musical adaptation in London in 2024.
She told the BBC, “They [my sunglasses] help me see and they help me not see. They help me be seen and not be seen. They are a prop, I would say.”
Wintour also became synonymous with the Met Gala, the annual high-profile charity event in New York City, which she has organised for years, drawing celebrities from fashion, film, politics, and sport.
Recognition and future plans
Wintour has received numerous accolades during her career. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2017 and became a Companion of Honour in February 2025. During the ceremony in London, she removed her sunglasses to receive the award and told King Charles III that she had no intention of retiring.
Wintour also became synonymous with the Met GalaGetty Images
In the United States, President Joe Biden awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom earlier this year before leaving office.
Despite stepping back from US Vogue, Wintour will continue to oversee several major Condé Nast titles including Wired, Vanity Fair, GQ, Condé Nast Traveler, and Glamour, as part of her global leadership responsibilities.
In her remarks to staff, she described the decision as “pivotal” but confirmed she would not be leaving the company or her office. “I’ll be turning all my attention to global leadership and working with our team of brilliant editors around the world,” she said.
FILE PHOTO: A Post Office van parked outside the venue for the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House on January 11, 2024 in London. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE people responsible for the Post Office Horizon scandal may not face trial until 2028, according to the senior police officer leading the investigation.
Commander Stephen Clayman has said that the process is taking longer because police are now looking at a wider group of people, not just those directly involved in decisions about the faulty Horizon computer system, reported the Telegraph.
Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly accused of theft and false accounting after problems with the Horizon software made it appear that money was missing from local Post Office branches.
Many of these sub-postmasters lost their jobs, reputations, and in some cases, their freedom. The scandal is now seen as one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history.
Despite a court ruling that cleared many of the former sub-postmasters, hundreds are still waiting for compensation. The government has promised payouts of up to £600,000 for those whose convictions have been overturned, but delays continue.
Commander Clayman explained that the investigation, known as Operation Olympos, has grown in size and complexity. Police are now looking beyond the original group of suspects to include senior managers and others who may have played a role in the scandal.
“We are beginning to scope, looking at wider management. That will happen and is happening – it will just take time to get there,” he told the BBC. He stressed the need for the police teams to be “really meticulous and pay attention to detail”.
So far, seven people have been identified as suspects, and dozens more are considered persons of interest. The investigation is enormous, with more than 3,000 possible victims and 1.5 million documents to review.
No one will be charged until the public inquiry into the scandal has finished and police have carefully examined its findings. The inquiry is expected to provide crucial evidence about who knew what, and when.
Victims of the scandal say they are desperate for answers and accountability. Tim Brentnall, a former sub-postmaster, said it was important for the police to “do it properly”, even if it means waiting longer for justice.
David Enright, a solicitor from Howe and Co, whose firm represented most of the sub-postmasters involved in the inquiry, said many sub-postmasters have died without ever seeing those responsible held to account. He added that sub-postmasters are left wondering why there is no real urgency driving the police investigation.
A Post Office spokesperson said the company has “co-operated fully and openly with the Metropolitan Police since early 2020 to provide whatever information it needs for its investigations”.