Operation Stovewood: Rotherham taxi driver guilty of raping two young girls

A former taxi driver has been found guilty of committing child sex offences against two underage girls during the 2000s.

The CPS prosecuted Adam Ali, 43, as part of Operation Stovewood, a major National Crime Agency investigation into non-familial child sexual abuse and exploitation which took place in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, between 1997 and 2013.

Ali, formerly known as Razwan Razaq, was found guilty of seven charges following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday, 23 May 2024.

The offences against the two victims took place between 2001 and 2004. Each incident involved the defendant getting the victims into his taxi or car before assaulting them.

One victim was routinely assaulted and raped by Ali during a one-year period. Ali gave the victim lifts in his taxi and would expect her to perform sexual acts in return.

If the victim refused, Ali would threaten to drive the victim to unknown locations and leave her stranded if she did not comply.

Liz Fell, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, said: “Adam Ali purposefully targeted his victims with the view that he could exploit them for sex. 

“Child sexual abuse is a traumatising crime, the devastating impact of which can last a lifetime. We would like to commend the victims in this case for coming forward and reporting what happened to them. It is because of their evidence that we were able to secure a conviction and bring their abuser to justice.

“I hope this conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, whenever that abuse takes place.

“I encourage any victims of child sexual abuse and sexual violence to report the crimes committed against them to the police. It is never too late to seek justice.”

Senior Investigating Officer Stuart Cobb, of the NCA, said: “The victims showed immense courage in recounting Ali’s horrendous abuse. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for them to relive their experiences during the trial, yet they gave brave and eloquent accounts.

”This case highlights how the National Crime Agency ensures child abusers face justice, no matter how much time has passed since they committed their crimes.”  

Ali was previously sentenced to 11 years imprisonment in 2010 after being convicted of committing offences of a similar nature.  

To deal with some of the more complex and challenging child sexual abuse cases, the CPS established its dedicated Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit to share specialist understanding, build strong cases and increase the amount of successful prosecutions.