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Victim fears sexual grooming is 'going on everywhere'

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A victim of one of the Rochdale 10 sentenced to more than 125 years for sex offences against teenagers and young women said that exploitation "is going on everywhere".

When asked whether she thought that there were still teenage girls being exploited in Rochdale, she told ITV News: "More than likely, probably, it's going on everywhere. I think it goes on in Oldham as well just as much as Rochdale."

She was 15 when she was exploited by one of the men who was sentenced to 23 years in prison for offences against her and two others. He cannot be named for legal reasons.

He was always there for me when you needed him, until you get a bit wise and you realise it's just use and abuse.

A lot of girls don't see it. Sometimes they make you feel like you're on top of the world and then, all of a sudden they just drop you.

– Rochdale sex exploitation victim
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Ten jailed for more than 125 years for sex offences against eight victims

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Man charged with murder of imam in Rochdale

Jalal Uddin was found with head injuries in a children's play area Credit: Police handout

A man has been charged with the murder of an imam found with fatal head injuries in Rochdale.

Jalal Uddin was found with serious injuries in a child's play area in the town, within Greater Manchester.

The 64-year-old was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

Mohammed Hussain Syeedy, 21, of Ramsay Street, Rochdale, has been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, Greater Manchester Police said.

He will appear at Bury Magistrates Court on Monday.

A 17-year-old boy previously arrested on suspicion of murder is on bail until April 20.

Man cleared after being arrested over Imam's murder

Jalal Uddin was attacked while walking home from a mosque in Rochdale. Credit: Peter Byrne / PA Wire/PA Images

A man arrested after an Imam was brutally attacked while walking home from a mosque, has been released by murder squad detectives.

Jalal Uddin died in hospital from serious head injuries after being assaulted in a children's playground in Rochdale on Thursday night.

A 31-year-old man arrested on Friday on suspicion of murder has now been released without charge and eliminated from police inquiries.

Detectives say a racist motive for the murder has not been ruled out but they are keeping an "open mind".

Following extensive analysis of CCTV in the area, we now know that Jalal walked into the park from the South Street entrance at 8.41pm. He was then found injured seven minutes later by a passing member of the public.

– Detective Chief Inspector, Terry Crompton

Local religious leaders have called for calm, asked police be allowed to do their work and for locals not to speculate what prompted the attack.

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Thousands of homes without power after substation floods

The power is down to around 10,000 homes. Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Around 10,000 homes in Rochdale and Lancashire have lost their electricity supply after flood waters hit a main substation, the Press Association has reported.

Electricity North West said extra engineers have been on standby and teams are working to repair the damage.

We're continuing to work hard in extremely difficult conditions to restore supplies to as many people as we can as quickly as possible, but severe flooding has caused damage to local substations in Rochdale and Lancashire.

We have drafted in extra engineers and will continue to work throughout the day to get everyone back on and we are here 24 hours a day seven days a week so please contact us if you need any advice or information.

– Mark Williamson, operations director for Electricity North West
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