Ex-taxi driver who abused children jailed again

Adam Ali, formerly known as Razwan Razaq, was jailed on Tuesday at Sheffield Crown Court

A former taxi driver who used his car to prey on and sexually abuse children as young as 12 has been jailed for 13 years.

Adam Ali, formerly known as Razwan Razaq, targeted and attacked vulnerable girls in Rotherham between 2002 and 2004.

In May, a jury at Sheffield Crown Court found Ali, 43, of Washington Road, Sheffield, guilty of four counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault in relation to two victims.

Ali, who was released from prison in 2023 for separate sexual offences, has also been made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years.

In 2010, Ali was handed an 11-year sentence after he was found guilty of two charges of sexual activity with a child.

After serving his jail term, he was recalled to prison in 2021 and released in April 2023.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Ali was arrested just one month later after officers were notified of his intention to travel to Pakistan.

He was jailed on Tuesday as part of Operation Stovewood - the NCA's investigation into non-familial child sexual abuse and exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

Stuart Cobb, NCA senior investigating officer, said: "I would like to pay tribute to the victims in this case, who showed immense courage in coming forward and telling their stories.

"They went through experiences no child should ever have to and I hope that the sentence handed down can at least help them feel that justice has been done."

Liz Fell, Crown Prosecution Service specialist prosecutor, said Ali had "purposefully targeted" his victims with the view that he could exploit them.

"It is because of their evidence that we were able to secure a conviction and bring their abuser to justice," she said.

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