5 people were convicted of multiple sex crimes against young girls in Rotherham, the northern English town which hit the headlines two years ago when it was revealed that as many as 1,400 children had been abused by gangs.

Brothers Basharat and Arshid Hussain, their uncle Qurban Ali and Karen MacGregor and Shelley Davis were found guilty of a variety of sex offences at Sheffield Crown Court.

Their third brother Bannaras Hussain, had earlier pleaded guilty. Two other men were cleared. Arshid Hussain played a key role. He used them for his own gratification, then passed girls to his brothers or associates. The girls were plied with drink and drugs before they were “passed around” for sex.

Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the Muslim campaigning organisation the Ramadhan Foundation, said: This is a concerted effort by a minority of Pakistani men who have groomed, abused and raped young white girls.

The Home Office considers using legal powers to deport ringleaders of sex abuse gangs in cases “conducive to the public good”. They are expected to face action to strip them of their UK citizenship after they are sentenced.