UK grooming gang (Image: West Yorkshire Police)
A gang of 15 men have been jailed for 188 years for repeatedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Bradford, bringing an end to a long-running investigation and series of trials that spanned several years.The men were convicted of a total of 88 rapes committed between 2007 and 2011, when the victim was between 14 and 18 years old.Reporting restrictions that prevented details of the case from being published were lifted by Bradford Crown Court after all relevant trials had concluded.
Survivor: ‘This has consumed my life for almost 20 years’
Speaking after the sentencing, the survivor said the assault had scarred her for life and robbed her of her childhood.“The men involved took more from me than I can put into words,” she said.“All in all, this has consumed my life for less than 20 years. It’s not something I can forget.” She added that the trauma she experienced as a teenager will stay with her for the rest of her life.
The investigation was launched after reports of missing people raised concerns
Police first identified the woman as a potential victim of child sexual exploitation in late 2015 after reviewing several missing persons reports linked to her.A comprehensive investigation was launched in February 2016, ultimately leading to charges against several suspects.
The case was then split into multiple trials due to its complexity.
Long prison sentences were imposed
The sentences reflect the extent of the crime and the number of rapes committed by members of the group.Those given the longest sentences included Yousuf Bhatti, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison for eight rapes, and Anwar Aziz, Omar Taj, and Faisal Rasheed, who were sentenced to 15 years in prison for multiple rapes.Other defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from eight to more than 13 years.
Police praise the victim’s courage
Chief Inspector Vicky Greenbank described the crimes as “abhorrent” and praised the survivor for her courage throughout the investigation and court proceedings.“These men horribly assaulted a child for their own sexual gratification,” she said. “What they did was abhorrent and they deserve to remain in prison for a long time.”She added that she hopes the convictions will encourage other victims of abuse to come forward, regardless of how much time has passed since the crimes occurred.With reporting restrictions now lifted, authorities say the outcome provides a measure of justice for the survivor after years of legal action.Police said they hope this case sends a clear message that child sexual exploitation crimes will be pursued, regardless of how long ago they occurred.
