A SICK grooming gang of 20 men who raped and abused vulnerable girls as young as 12 have been jailed.
The group sexually abused and exploited four girls aged between 12 and 16 in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, between 2001 and 2010.
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Their identities can now be revealed for the first time after reporting restrictions imposed due to a number of separate investigations were lifted on Wednesday.
West Yorkshire Police first received a report of the abuse in 2016, before launching “multiple extremely complex and sensitive investigations into a number of separate allegations”.
The first probe was made into allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation involving two girls in the Calderdale area between 2006 and 2009.
The girls were aged between 13 and 16 at the time.
Later in 2016, police began investigating reports of repeated sexual abuse of a vulnerable young girl between 2002 and 2006.
The victim was just 13 when the abuse started.
A third investigation was opened in 2018 after allegations of sexual abuse of a girl in the same area between 2001 and 2002.
She was aged 12 when the abuse began.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Claire Smith of Calderdale District Police, said: “Firstly, I want to acknowledge the sheer courage of the victims and survivors in each of these investigations; not only for having the bravery to come forward initially but also for enduring the criminal justice system and the weight of criminal trials and reporting restrictions in place.
“Due to legal restrictions, it has not been possible to publicise these outcomes until now.
The 20 men jailed for child sex abuse
Investigation into abuse of two girls between 2006 and 2009
Trial One – beginning in October 2021 at Bradford Crown Court
- Shahzad Nowaz, 45, of Halifax, found guilty of rape and making threats to kill, sentenced to a total of 11 years.
- Nadeem Nassir, 44, of Halifax, found guilty of rape and making threats to kill, sentenced to a total of 11 years.
- Sajid Adalat, 48, of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to a total of seven years.
- Sohail Zaffer, 41, of Halifax, pled guilty to rape and supply of a class C drug, sentenced to a total of 42 months.
- Shazad Nazir, 49, of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to a total of 11 years.
Trial Two – commenced January 2022 Bradford Crown Court
- Nadeem Adalat, 39, of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to 14 years. He appealed the sentence, increased to a total of 16 years.
- Asad Mahmood, 38, of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to a total of 13 years.
- Mohammed Rizwan Iqbal, 39, of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to a total of nine years.
- Vaseem Adalat, 38, of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to 12 years, following an appeal was increased to a total of 14 years and six months.
Investigation into abuse of vulnerable girl between 2002 and 2006
Trial One – August 2022 at Bradford Crown Court
- Amir Shaban, 48, of Halifax, was found guilty of rape, sentenced to 10 years.
Trial Two – October 2022 at Bradford Crown Court
- Malik Quadeer, 67, of Halifax, found guilty of five counts of rape, sentenced to 22 years.
- Mohammed Ziarab, 55, of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to 10 years.
- Imran Raja Yasin, 45, of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to 10 years.
- Kamran Amin, 48, of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to 10 years.
- Mohammed Akhtar, 54, of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to 11 years. Mr Akhtar died while serving his sentence.
- Saquab Hussain, 46, of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to seven years and 6 months.
Trial Three – January 2024 at Bradford Crown Court
- Haroon Sadiq, 40, of Halifax, found guilty of two counts of rape, sentenced to 10 years.
- Shafiq Ali Rafiq, 44, of Dewsbury, found guilty of two counts of rape, sentenced to 12 years.
- Sarfraz Rabnawaz, 39, of Bradford, found guilty of two counts of rape, sentenced to nine years.
Abuse of girl aged 12 from 2001 to 2002
Trial December 2023 at Bradford Crown Court
- Craig Mitchell, 55 of Halifax, found guilty of rape, sentenced to 12 years.
“I welcome the sentences handed to these offenders for the abhorrent abuse these young girls were subjected to, which was heard by the jurors in each trial over the last few years.
“Tackling child sexual exploitation and abuse is a top priority for West Yorkshire Police and our partners.
“This is an abhorrent crime which has a lifelong impact on victims and survivors.
“I hope highlighting the prosecution of these offenders will serve as a reminder that we will continue to do all we can to put perpetrators behind bars and protect victims and survivors.
He added: “It’s never too late to report child sexual abuse. I encourage anyone who was abused as a child to speak to someone and seek support.
“Reports of non-recent abuse are handled by officers who are specially trained in supporting victims and survivors and dealing with such sensitive cases.”
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