Telford brothers sold girls for sex, court is told

Four teenage girls – one just 13 – were the victims of sexual abuse and child prostitution at the hands of two Shropshire brothers over a two-year period, a court has been told.

The youngest of the girls was said to have been targeted and raped by one of the defendants, while another girl was repeatedly sold as a prostitute, often to three or four men at a time, Stafford Crown Court heard.

It is claimed that Ahdel Ali, 24, and his 29-year-old brother, Mubarek, had both variously sexually abused, raped, trafficked, prostituted or tried to prostitute the teenagers,all from the Telford area.

Miss Deborah Gould, prosecuting, told the jury that Ahdel Ali, who was known as Eddie, was to have been 'seeking to increase his portfolio of girls' and his older brother, Mubarek, who was known as Max, had sold one of the girls for sex to employees at an Indian restaurant.

Miss Gould said the alleged victims suffered from 'an extraordinary lack of self-esteem' and became addicted to, and dependent on, the two brothers.

"They were easy prey," she said. Miss Gould said the prosecution would show how the defendants were able to manipulate the girls.

The married defendants, both of Regent Street, Wellington, deny a total of 26 allegations involving the sexual exploitation of the teenage girls.

The trial, which is expected to last two months, continues.