Old Bailey Statue Justice Law UK Crime
Tahir Hussain will appear in court charged with a string of child sex offences iStock

A member of a suspected paedophile ring that allegedly travelled the length of the UK to rape boys as young as 13 is due to appear at Birmingham magistrates' court today (21 July).

Unemployed Tahir Hussain, 33, of St Joseph's Road, Ward End, Birmingham, will appear before magistrates accused of a string of child sex offences.

West Midlands Police charged him on Monday (20 July) with sexual assault on a male; six counts of arranging/facilitating the prostitution/involvement in pornography of a child aged 13-17 years; two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13-15; four counts of raping a boy aged 13/14/15 years of age; engaging in sexual activity in presence of a child aged 13-15; trafficking persons within the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation.

Nine other men – whose jobs vary from a caretaker to a photographer - have also been charged with sex offences including making indecent photographs and trafficking potential sexual abuse victims across the country and are due to appear at the same court on 18 August.

They are:

  • Unemployed Stephen Kelly, 39, of Elm Road, Bournville, Birmingham is charged with: Three counts of arranging/facilitating the prostitution/involvement in pornography of a child aged 13-17 years; Engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13-15; Engaging in sexual activity in presence of a child aged 13-15; and attempting to rape of a male under 16 years of age.
  • Caretaker Peter Joynes, 58, of Canberra Way, Highgate, Birmingham is charged with: Arranging/facilitating the prostitution/involvement in pornography of a child aged 13-17 years; Engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13-15; Making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child; and possessing indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child.
  • Unemployed Darren Clegg, 27, of Whitburn Avenue, Great Barr, Birmingham is charged with: Engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13-15.
  • Retired Peter Lowe, 67, of Salisbury Close, Moseley, Birmingham is charged with: Two counts of arranging/facilitating the prostitution/involvement in pornography of a child aged 13-17 years; Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child aged 13-15; Rape of a boy aged 13/14/15 years of age; and engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13-15.
  • Farm manager Ronald Potter, 78, of Tippers Lane, Fillongley, Coventry is charged with: Arranging/facilitating the prostitution/involvement in pornography of a child aged 13-17 years; Engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with boy aged 13-15; Rape a boy aged 13/14/15 years of age; and two counts of indecent assault on boy under the age of 16 years between 2001 and 2002.
  • Unemployed Ian Prestleton, 53, of High Haden Road, Sandwell is charged with: Rape of a boy aged 13/14/15 years of age; Arranging/facilitating the prostitution/involvement in pornography of a child aged 13-17 years; Engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13-15; and causing/inciting a boy aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity.
  • Driver Alan Priest, 63, of Holly Road, Rowley Regis is charged with: Arranging/facilitating the prostitution/involvement in pornography of a child aged 13-17 years; Two counts of rape of a boy aged 13/14/15 years of age; Two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13-15; and engaging in a non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13 -15.
  • Unemployed Ashley Sherrington, 24, of Dawlish Drive, Bentley, Stoke-on-Trent is charged with: Arranging/facilitating the prostitution/involvement in pornography of a child aged 13-17 years; Rape of a boy aged 13/14/ 15 years of age; and two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13-15.
  • Photographer Michael Godbold, 58, of Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush, London is charged with: Arranging/facilitating the prostitution/involvement in pornography of a child aged 13-17 years; Three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13-15; Two counts of rape of a boy aged 13/14/15 years of age; Making indecent photographs / pseudo-photographs of a child; Three counts of possession of a controlled drug of Class A; Possession of Class B drugs; and possessing an imitation firearm.