Fifteen men, mainly from Bradford, have been sentenced to a combined 188 years in prison for their involvement in the rape and sexual offending of a child in Bradford. The survivor was aged between 14 and 18 at the time of the abuse, which took place more than a decade ago.
The woman was first approached by police in November 2015 after officers identified her as a potential survivor of child sexual exploitation. Police records showed that she had been the subject of multiple missing person reports, and a formal investigation was launched in February 2016. Numerous trials have taken place over the last two years, but reporting restrictions were in place until today to protect the integrity of the proceedings. Those restrictions were lifted at Bradford Crown Court by Her Honour Judge Kirstie Watson.
Speaking after the men were sentenced, the survivor said: “This has consumed my life for just short of 20 years. It is not something which I can forget.” In a further statement, she said her childhood had been taken away from her and that the impact of the abuse would stay with her for the rest of her life.
The sentences handed down are as follows:
- Hannan Miah, 40, of Bradford: 12 years for four rapes.
- Asif Budhia, 43, of Bradford: 13 years for four rapes.
- Abdul Basith, 44, of Bradford: 13-and-a-half years for four rapes and one conspiracy to rape.
- Burhan Uddin Ali, 39, of Bradford: 13-and-a-half years for four rapes.
- Muhammad Yasir, 50, of Bradford: 10 years for rape.
- Mohammed Nadeem Ali, 41, of Bradford: 13 years for four counts of rape.
- Jameel Ahmed, 35, of Bradford: eight years for four counts of rape.
- Amjad Hussain, 39, of Keighley: 10 years and five months for five counts of rape.
- Ashfaq Ahmed, 39, of Halifax: 12 years for two rapes.
- Aftab Ahmed, 37, of Bradford: 11 years for three rapes.
- Anwar Aziz, 36, of Bradford: 15 years for 14 rapes.
- Yousaf Bhatti, 40, of Bradford: 17 years for eight rapes.
- Faisal Rashid, 37, of Bradford: 15 years for ten rapes.
- Omar Taj, 38, of Batley: 15 years for 12 rapes.
- Shahinul Haq, 39, of Bradford: 10 years for rape.
Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Greenbank of Bradford District Police praised the survivor’s courage throughout the investigation and court process. She said the men had “horrifically abused a child for their own sexual gratification” and described their conduct as abhorrent. She also said she hoped the outcome would give the victim some closure and encourage other survivors to come forward, no matter how long ago the abuse happened.
Police and support services said anyone who has suffered sexual assault can seek help and report offences to specially trained officers. West Yorkshire Police also continue to support the “When You Are Ready” campaign for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation.