Two dudes went to jail after they raped girls from a Rotherham children's home. The court heard these children faced sexual attacks several times every week from men who called them fresh meat. The Sheffield Court handed down serious prison time - 20 years for Romulad Stefan Houphouet and 18-and-a-half years for Absalom Sigiyo. These girls lived through horrible abuse during 2011 and 2012.
Judge Sarah Wright spoke about the severe mental harm done to these young victims. She praised their courage for telling their stories despite everything they suffered. The girls still deal with lasting effects today. The National Crime Agency learned one victim faced rape two or three times weekly from Sigiyo. Both men targeted extremely vulnerable fifteen-year-old girls.
Houphouet first met these girls back when he was 24 years old. He took one girl into an alley downtown and raped her. Later he raped her again because he felt angry after finding his roommate Jacek Brzozowski having sex with her. Sigiyo also raped this same victim. Brzozowski admitted his crimes and waits for sentencing coming up next month.
Kath Blain from the investigation team praised how these women found the strength to report what happened. She mentioned their dignity throughout the entire process. Houphouet faced charges, including four counts of rape. Sigiyo faced multiple serious charges, plus he tried scaring one victim away from helping police with their case. These convictions come from Operation Stovewood, which looks into child sexual abuse across Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
Judge Sarah Wright spoke about the severe mental harm done to these young victims. She praised their courage for telling their stories despite everything they suffered. The girls still deal with lasting effects today. The National Crime Agency learned one victim faced rape two or three times weekly from Sigiyo. Both men targeted extremely vulnerable fifteen-year-old girls.
Houphouet first met these girls back when he was 24 years old. He took one girl into an alley downtown and raped her. Later he raped her again because he felt angry after finding his roommate Jacek Brzozowski having sex with her. Sigiyo also raped this same victim. Brzozowski admitted his crimes and waits for sentencing coming up next month.
Kath Blain from the investigation team praised how these women found the strength to report what happened. She mentioned their dignity throughout the entire process. Houphouet faced charges, including four counts of rape. Sigiyo faced multiple serious charges, plus he tried scaring one victim away from helping police with their case. These convictions come from Operation Stovewood, which looks into child sexual abuse across Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
