Twenty Men Imprisoned for Rape and Child Sexual Abuse

A total of twenty men have received prison sentences for their involvement in the rape and sexual abuse of four young girls within West Yorkshire. According to police statements, these crimes occurred in the Calderdale region from 2001 to 2010, during which period the victims were between 12 and 16 years old. The defendants faced multiple distinct trials at Bradford Crown Court starting in 2021; however, details of the verdicts and sentences are only now permissible for public disclosure due to legal restrictions. Among those convicted, Mohammed Akhtar, 54, received an 11-year sentence after being found guilty of rape, but he passed away during his incarceration. The most substantial sentence imposed was 22 years for Malik Quadeer, 67, from Halifax, who was convicted on five counts of rape. The other 18 men are: Detective Chief Inspector Claire Smith, from West Yorkshire Police, stated: “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.” She further commented: “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.” Listeners can access highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, view the most recent episode of Look North, or submit potential news stories for coverage here. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites and provides information regarding its policy on external linking.