Gang of 24 jailed for child sex abuse in latest 'Rotherham-like' grooming scandal

MORE than 20 members of a child sex abuse gang have been given prison sentences in the latest grooming scandal to mirror those in Rotherham and Rochdale.

The men received sentences of up to 30 years each for sexually exploiting young girls in West Yorkshire, involving abuse described as “abhorrent in the extreme” after girls were “traded like commodities.”

In total the 24 men were jailed for a combined 346 years following prosecutions arising out of Operation Tourway – West Yorkshire Police’s investigation into the rape, sexual abuse and trafficking of eight girls in the North Kirklees area, including the towns of Batley and Dewsbury, between 1999 and 2012.

Among the worst offenders was Asif Ali, 53, from Batley.

He was sentenced to 24 years in prison for 14 counts of rape, two offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and offences of trafficking for sexual exploitation, intentionally encouraging or assisting an offender and aiding, abetting or procuring rape.

Others to receive the longest sentences were:

● Zafar Qayum, 44, from Dewsbury, sentenced to 30 years for six counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault and three counts of aiding and abetting rape;

● Khurum Raziq, 42, from Heckmondwike, sentenced to 22 years for eight offences of rape;

● Ansar Qayum, 47, from Dewsbury, sentenced to 20 years for four counts of rape and one offence of attempted indecent assault;

● Nasar Hussain, 46, from Dewsbury, sentenced to 18 years for three offences of rapes.

Details can only now be divulged after reporting restrictions that covered five trials over two years were lifted on Friday. It followed the sentencing of the latest seven men at Leeds Crown Court.

Four men convicted in the series of trials received sentences of more than 20 years.

Detective Chief Inspector Oliver Coates, said: “The victims’ bravery in coming forward and identifying their abusers has allowed us to take action against men whose offending and

behaviour can only be described as abhorrent in the extreme.

“Now that reporting restrictions have been lifted we can, for the first time, disclose full details of all those sentenced so far, in what has been a long trial process.

“Some of these men received in excess of 30 years each for the multiple offences they committed and the callous and degrading way they treated these then-young girls.

“Men such Asif Ali committed appalling sexual abuse on a scale which can barely be believed and saw their young victims as defenceless commodities to be abused and traded.

“Far from being powerless however, those young women have instead fought back as adults and forced them to account for their crimes."

THE CONVICTIONS IN FULL:

• Khurum Raziq (42) from Heckmondwike sentenced to 22 years after being found guilty of eight offences of rape.
• Nasar Hussain (46) from Dewsbury sentenced to 18 years after being found guilty of three rape offences.
• Zafar Qayum (44) from Dewsbury sentenced to 30 years for six counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault and three counts of aiding and abetting rape.
• Ansar Qayum (47) from Dewsbury was sentenced to 20 years for four counts of rape and one offence of attempted indecent assault.
• Mohammed Jabbar Qayum (43) from Dewsbury was sentenced to 13 years for two offences of rape committed against one victim.
• Mohammed Imran Zada (45) from Batley sentenced to 15 years for four offences of rape and an offence of sexual activity with a child - 15 years
• Michael Birkenshaw (37) from Wakefield was sentenced to eight years for an offence of rape.
• Amran Mehrban (40) from Batley sentenced to 13 years for two offences of rape and an offence of assault by penetration
• Sarkaut Yasen (38) from Dewsbury sentenced to 15 years for an offence of trafficking and three offences of aiding and abetting rape.
• Mohammed Saleem Nasir (48) from Dewsbury sentenced to 19 years for three offences of rape and an offence of aiding and abetting rape.
• Irfan Khan (37) from Batley sentenced to 12 years and five years extended licence for three offences of rape and an offence of making threats to kill
• Omar Farooq Hussain (39) from Batley was sentenced to 18 years for four offences of rape.
• Sarfraz Hussain Riaz (40) from Dewsbury was sentenced to 15 years for two offences of rape and an offence of attempted rape.
• Zafar Iqbal (38) from Batley was sentenced to 17 years for an offence of indecency with child, trafficking and three offences of rape.
• Nasar Iqbal (38) from Batley was sentenced to 10 years for an offence of trafficking and an offence of rape
• Mohammed Chothia (47) from Batley was sentenced to 17 years for four offences of rape and an offence of trafficking
• Bilal Patel (42) from Leicester was sentenced to 13 years for an offence of trafficking and an offence of rape.
• Asif Ali (53) from Batley was sentenced to 24 years for 14 counts of rape, two offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and offences of trafficking for sexual exploitation, intentionally encouraging or assisting an offender and aiding, abetting or procuring rape.
• Mohammed Tauseef Hanif (39) from Dewsbury was jailed for nine and a half years for an offence of rape.
• Ali Shah (38) from Dewsbury was sentenced to 10 years for one offence of rape.
• Moshin Nadat (38) from Heckmondwike was sentenced to seven and a half years for one offence of rape.
• Safraz Miraf (49) from Dewsbury was sentenced to four and a half years for an offence of attempted rape
• Mohammed Nazam Nasser (38) from Batley was sentenced to seven and a half years for an offence of rape
• Amir Ali Hussain (45) from Batley was sentenced to eight years for an offence of rape.