A england/sheffield/”>Sheffield man has been found guilty of grooming and raping two girls in Rotherham in the early 2000s, following a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation.
Obaidullah Omari, 46, of Sheffield, targeted the victims – both aged between 13 and 14 – between 2003 and 2004.
The case was investigated by officers under Operation Stovewood, the UK’s largest inquiry into child sexual abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
Alcohol, Drugs and Abuse
Sheffield Crown Court heard that Omari, then in his 20s, supplied the young girls with alcohol and drugs before carrying out the abuse.
The jury found he raped one victim multiple times at his Eastwood home and inside his car. He was also convicted of raping the second victim on one occasion.
Survivors Come Forward After 20 Years
Both women came forward Moremore than 20 years later and provided statements to NCA officers, leading to Omari’s arrest in 2019.
After a two-Weekweek trial, he was convicted of:
- Three counts of rape
- Two counts of indecent assault
He is due to be sentenced on Thursday, 4 September at Sheffield Crown Court.
NCA Statement
NCA senior investigating officer Alan Hastings praised the courage of the victims, saying:
“I pay tribute to the bravery of these two women – what they have been through is unimaginable, yet they were still able to tell us their stories and give evidence. Without that we would not have been able to get these convictions.
Working with partners across Rotherham and South Yorkshire, Operation Stovewood continues to support victims and pursue perpetrators.”
Operation Stovewood Background
Operation Stovewood remains the biggest investigation of its kind in the UK, probing allegations of abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
To date, 48 offenders – including Omari – have been convicted.
