Three boys allegedly took turns raping a 13-year-old girl near Newbold tram stop in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, in February 2024. The boys, aged 12, 13, and 14 at the time, are accused of filming part of the assault on a mobile phone and sharing the footage among themselves and others.
The boys, whose identities are protected by law, have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Two of them, now 15 and 16, are facing trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, while the third, who was 12 at the time and is now 14, has been found unfit to stand trial.
According to the prosecution, the girl did not know the boys and was only with them briefly before the incident. The jury was informed that the boys coerced the girl into non-consensual sexual acts, with one of them being overheard saying, “let me have a go now.” Despite the girl’s clear refusal, the boys allegedly continued their actions, causing the girl to feel scared and overwhelmed.
The trial also revealed that the boys were observed interacting with girls in Rochdale town center before moving to the tram station where the assault took place. The alleged victim, on her way to McDonald’s with a friend, encountered the boys on the tram, and the situation escalated upon disembarking at Newbold.
The prosecution argues that the boys’ coordinated actions were part of a joint effort to assault the girl. Testimonies suggest that the incident unfolded rapidly, leaving the victim in a state of shock and distress.
