Calderdale Child Sexual Exploitation Sentences

A further two men have been sentenced today at Leeds Crown Court to a total of 12 years for historic child sex offences.

This follows on from 13 men being sentenced yesterday to more than 150 years in prison for historic child sex offences.

It follows the largest and longest running investigation into child sexual exploitation in Calderdale.

In addition to those sentenced yesterday, Sikander Ishaq, 31, of Halifax was today sentenced to 6 years after being found guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child and Mansoor Akhtar, 25, of Huddersfield was sentenced to five and a half years after being found guilty of sexual activity with a child. He was also sentenced to a consecutive sentence of six months after pleading guilty to the supply of class B drugs. His total sentence was six years.

Fasil Mahmood, 37, of Halifax was sentenced to 10 months after being found guilty of the supply of class B drugs.

Farquaan Gafar, 31, of Derby pleaded guilty on 6 June to sexual activity with a child and will be sentenced at a later date.

The offending mainly took place in Halifax and Bradford between 2009 and 2011. One victim was sexually assaulted. The other victim was systematically abused by many men.

The conclusion of the trial  is the culmination of a four year long investigation by West Yorkshire Police  which resulted in 25 defendants being charged in December 2014 with offences including rape, trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, sexual activity with a child, sexual assault, voyeurism, sexual grooming, conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child under 16, causing a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity without consent and supply of a controlled drug of class B.

Three separate trials have taken place between February and June  2016. The Judge imposed reporting restrictions.

Peter Mann, Head of the Complex Casework Unit, CPS Yorkshire and Humberside said:

"We have worked closely with our colleagues at West Yorkshire Police since the start of this complex and lengthy operation.

“These  men are responsible for a range of crimes involving child sexual exploitation and abuse. One victim was sexually assaulted in a car. The second victim was groomed, and systematically exploited by the older men she associated with. Some of her  abusers acted together as a group, grooming  her and plying  her with drink and drugs. Others took advantage of  her individually.

" Both these young women have shown immense courage and bravery in reporting these matters to the police and in providing evidence to enable us to bring a strong  prosecution case to put before a jury.

" This case sends out a very  clear message to all those who may be hesitating about coming forward to report matters such as these.  Make no mistake - we will not tolerate this type abuse on our streets or in our communities. We will not hesitate to bring dangerous criminals who carry out acts of sexual violence to justice."

The thirteen sentenced yesterday:

Aftab Hussain aged 37 of Halifax– pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual activity with a child in September last year .He was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.

Haaris AHMED  aged 32 of Halifax

Found guilty of two counts sexual activity with a child and with the supply of class B drugs  - sentenced to 12 and a half years imprisonment.

Taukeer BUTT  aged 31 of Halifax

Found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child –sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Azeem SUBHANI aged 25 of Halifax

Found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child – sentenced to 9 years imprisonment.

Tahir MAHMOOD aged 43 of Halifax

Found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child and sexual assault –sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.

Mohammed ALI AHMED aged 43 of Halifax

Found guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child –sentenced to 6 and a half years imprisonment.

Talib SADDIQ aged 31 of Halifax

Found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child – sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.

Amaar ALI DITTA aged 27 of Halifax

Found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child – sentenced to 9 years imprisonment.

Sikander Malik aged 31 of Halifax

Found guilty of sexual activity with a child and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.

Haider ALI aged 41 of Halifax

Found guilty of sexual activity with a child and causing a person to engage in sexual activity – sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Mohammed RAMZAN aged 35 of Bradford

Found guilty of rape and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

Khalid ZAMAN aged 38 of Bradford

Found guilty of two counts of rape and supplying class B drugs and sentenced to 17 and a half years imprisonment

Hedar ALI aged 36 of Bradford

Found guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of trafficking for sexual exploitation and  sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.