Sentences of up to 30 years for 24 men involved in ‘abhorrent’ abuse of girls

More than 20 “sexual predators” have been given jail sentences of up to 30 years for sexually exploiting young girls in West Yorkshire, involving abuse described as “abhorrent in the extreme”.

The 24 men have been jailed for a total of 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.

Reporting restrictions which covered a series of five trials over two years were lifted on Friday after the sentencing of the latest seven men at Leeds Crown Court, the force confirmed on Saturday.

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

Detective Chief Inspector Oliver Coates, of Kirklees Police, praised the women who came forward to report what happened to them when they were younger.

He said: “Their bravery in coming forwards 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.”

Mr Coates said: “Throughout the last two years juries have heard details of absolutely shocking offending committed against victims in these cases.

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

“Men such Asif Ali, who alone was found guilty of 14 rape offences, 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 at whim.”

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

“They displayed real courage and determination in giving evidence through what have been lengthy trials and supporting our investigations.

“I hope they can find some closure and satisfaction in knowing they have enabled police and partners to mount a huge and highly difficult investigation which has taken sexual predators off our streets for years to come.”

Those sentenced are:

Khurum Raziq, 42, from Heckmondwike, was sentenced to 22 years for eight offences of rape.

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

Zafar Qayum, 44, from Dewsbury, was 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.

Mohammed Imran Zada, 45, from Batley, was sentenced to 15 years for four offences of rape and sexual activity with a 15-year-old child.

Michael Birkenshaw, 37, from Wakefield was sentenced to eight years for an offence of rape.

Amran Mehrban, 40, from Batley, was sentenced to 13 years for two offences of rape and an offence of assault by penetration.

Sarkaut Yasen, 38, from Dewsbury, was sentenced to 15 years for trafficking and three offences of aiding and abetting rape.

Mohammed Saleem Nasir, 48, from Dewsbury, was sentenced to 19 years for three offences of rape and an offence of aiding and abetting rape.

Irfan Khan, 37, from Batley, was sentenced to 12 years, with a five year extended licence, for three offences of rape and 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 trafficking and rape.

Mohammed Chothia, 47, from Batley, was sentenced to 17 years for four offences of rape and trafficking.

Bilal Patel, 42, from Leicester, was sentenced to 13 years for 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.

A 25th man was made subject of a hospital order following a finding of the facts at court, the force said.