Decades of Silence Broken: Monsters Behind Bars
The long shadow cast over the town of Bury by crimes committed nearly thirty years ago has finally been pierced by the light of justice. Today, Monday, December 8, 2025, at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, two cousins were handed combined sentences of nearly six decades for a campaign of systematic grooming and sexual abuse that stole the childhoods of vulnerable teenage girls. Manzorr Hussain, 54, and Imtiaz Ali, 53, stood in the dock as the full extent of their depravity was laid bare. Hussain was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment, while Ali received a 28-year term. For the survivors, who have carried the weight of these traumas since the late 1990s, today marks a pivotal moment of vindication, proving that the passage of time does not erase the severity of such heinous acts.
Predators in Plain Sight: The Market Stall Trap
The court heard chilling details of how Hussain and Ali operated in plain sight, weaving a web of manipulation that ensnared young girls who were often looking for acceptance or escape. The cousins, who ran market stalls in the area at the time, used their businesses as hunting grounds to identify and befriend their victims. What began with offers of “kindness”—alcohol, drugs, money, and lifts in their cars—quickly descended into a nightmare of coercion and control.
The prosecution described an “orchestrated and sustained” campaign of abuse where the men exploited the vulnerabilities of these teenagers, making them feel indebted and trapped. The victims were transported between locations in Bury and as far away as Wales, subjected to repeated sexual violence in homes and vehicles. The calculated nature of their crimes, using their position as market traders to build false trust, highlights a terrifying betrayal of community safety. For years, these men lived freely while their victims suffered in silence, threatened and coerced into keeping the dark secrets of their abusers.
A Lifetime of Trauma, A Moment of Justice
While the sentences handed down today are substantial, they cannot undo the years of pain inflicted upon the survivors. The bravery required for these women to step forward, decades after the abuse occurred, and testify against their tormentors is nothing short of heroic. Their testimony painted a picture of lost innocence and deep psychological scars that have lasted a lifetime.
Today’s verdict sends a powerful message that no matter how much time has passed, the justice system will pursue those who prey on children. Manzorr Hussain was found guilty of seven counts of rape and six counts of indecent assault, while Imtiaz Ali was convicted of five counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault. As the prison doors close on these two men, the community of Bury stands in solidarity with the survivors, hoping that this legal conclusion brings them a measure of peace and closure after a lifetime of waiting.