THE victims of two brothers, who have been jailed for over 10 years after being found guilty of a total of eight child sex offences, have urged girls in a similar situation to come forward.

Muhammad and Hashim Hussain, aged 20 and 24 respectively, were sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court after being unanimously convicted by a jury of sex offences between August 2016 and August 2017.

The court heard how the brothers, both of South Cross Street, Bury, groomed the victims, aged 14 and 15 at the start of the offending, by offering them alcohol and buying them gifts in exchange for sexual acts.

Muhammad was found guilty of twice raping one of the girls in August 2016 as well as one count of taking an indecent image of the same victim later that year in December, and sexual assaulting another girl in August 2017.

He has been sentenced to six years and two months in a youth offender's prison and has to sign the sex offenders' register for life. He has also had a restraining order imposed on him in relation to both victims.

His brother, Hashim, was also convicted after the four-week trial of two counts of taking an indecent image of a child, and two counts of possessing an indecent image of a child, all in 2017. He has been jailed for four years.

The three-year long investigation, led by Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Bury's Complex Safeguarding hub, alongside Bury council, saw detectives work through a vast amount of evidential lines of enquiry, as well as offering victims ongoing support throughout the investigation with support from specialist partner agencies.

Reacting after the conviction, both victims joined police in urging others experiencing abuse or exploitation to speak out.

Victim one said: "It's such a sigh of relief that they're now behind bars - I actually did get my justice and I know it was a long process but it was so worth it. They (the brothers) always thought they were unbeatable and now they have been beat and I'm so happy with that, honestly it gives me so much joy.

"I know it's hard and I know it's scary and I know it's a long process but speak up because it'll be the best thing you ever do. Honestly, even if you just talk about it that gives you so much relief getting it off your shoulders and not keeping it to yourself.

"Even if you don’t want to take it to court, talking about it is so much of a relief it will honestly change your mental state and make you feel so much happier. Especially when you've not wanted to speak out it and then when you do talk about it and are believed it's the best feeling in the world."

Victim two added: "They preyed on vulnerability; I think they specifically picked on me and my friend because we were vulnerable and we didn’t appear to be the most strong-minded - we seemed like the type of people that you could pick on and I feel like that's why they chose us.

"They can't continue to abuse people and get no consequences for it and I feel like they've made an example of themselves to anybody who was grooming because people are becoming more and more socially aware of the signs and know if it's happening to them.

"It sets an example to people who are grooming that you are not going to just live in the shadows, one day you will be prosecuted. Whether it's today or tomorrow, there will be someone knocking on your door asking why you assaulted children."

Detective Inspector Ian Partington, Senior Investigating Officer, said: "This has been an immensely thorough investigation in order to bring Muhammad and Hashim Hussain to account for their despicable and sickening crimes, and it is a great relief that they are now to spend time behind bars.

"Our investigation team have worked tirelessly to secure today's outcomes, but this would not have been possible had it not been for the courage and resilience of the victims to speak to police and pursue with the trial and to relive that abuse. Everyone in the team pays tribute to their unwavering bravery.

"I know that they believe the journey of the last three years in getting this case successfully through the courts has been worth it, and I join them in hoping that anyone else out there who's a victim of abuse - whether it's in Bury, Greater Manchester, or elsewhere in the country - to come forward and speak to police knowing that information will be treat with the strictest confidence.

"If there are other victims out there who now feel the time is right to come forward, then we are ready and determined to get justice for you, too.

"I would like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Bury council for their support in being able to secure these convictions and help rid our town of two remorseless sex offenders and put them where they belong."

Jo Lazzari from the CPS said: “Muhammad and Hashim Hussain treated these young girls as objects for their own sexual gratification. They exploited their vulnerability without any thought to the devastating impact of the abuse on the girls’ lives. I would like to thank these very brave young women for supporting the prosecutions and trusting us with their experiences. They described feeling ashamed, but it is the defendants who should now feel the shame of being convicted and jailed as predatory sex offenders.

“I would say to anyone abused in this way please come forward and tell us what happened to you. We will listen and take your allegations seriously. Victims should not feel they are at fault when they are preyed on by offenders. Everyone has a right to expect respect for their body and not be subjected to unwanted and harmful sexual exploitation. We will continue to work with Greater Manchester Police and other local partners to make sure these cases are brought to justice and I sincerely hope the convictions of their abusers will go some way to helping these young women to rebuild their lives.”

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said: “Safeguarding our children is among our highest priorities for the council. We work closely with the police and partners through our multi-agency Complex Safeguarding Team to protect children from exploitation and provide them with the help and support they need. Today’s outcome is a result of all the hard work by the Team in successfully securing the conviction of these offenders.”

If you have been affected by this case please contact GMP Bury's Complex Safeguarding Hub on 0161 856 4484. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 in an emergency.

Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims.

If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

- Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515

- Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk

- Survivors Manchester provides specialist trauma informed support to boys and men in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.