FAMILIES of the defendants yesterday remained tight lipped when asked to comment by the Oxford Mail.

A young man at the Horspath Road, Cowley home of acquitted Mohammed Hussain said he did not wish to comment.

A woman at the Kames Close, Cowley flat where Mohammed Karrar lived with his wife and three children also declined to speak.

Neighbour Walter Gibbons, 64, said: “We are very shocked.”

A woman who answered at Assad Hussain’s semi-detached Ashhurst Way, Rose Hill house said: “Sorry, we’re not interested.”

The family of brothers Akhtar and Anjum Dogar, of Tawney Street, East Oxford said they did not wish to comment.

There was no answer at the Palmer Road, Wood Farm semi of Zeeshan Ahmed or the Hundred Acres Close, Headington flat of Bassam Karrar.

Mum-of-three Carol Nikic, 35, neighbour of Ahmed, said: “It is just disgusting, I have kids of my own.”

A woman who answered at the Aldrich Road, Cutteslowe address given by the Old Bailey for Kamar Jamil said he was no longer the occupier.

Meanwhile, community leaders were trying to come to terms with the impact of the verdicts.

Dr Hojjat Ramzy, director of the Oxford Islamic Info Centre, said: “It is a relief these people have been found guilty and justice has been done. Muslims, non-Muslims, police social workers, all of us have to work together as a community and safeguard the children.”

He added: “Lessons have to be learned to make sure that this never happens again, especially to vulnerable children.

“They just needed some love because they were from broken homes and had been neglected by many including police, social workers, everybody let these little girls down. It is very sad.”