Reporting restrictions have been lifted on the Kirklees child sexual abuse case and the names of all 20 predators sentenced can now be published after they were sentenced to a total of 277 years in prison
Twenty individuals have been sentenced to a combined 277 years in prison following a probe into the sexual abuse of young girls in Kirklees.
According to West Yorkshire Police, the offences primarily occurred in the Dewsbury and Batley areas, targeting three girls, one of whom was only 12 years old when the abuse began. These incidents took place between 1995 and 2003.
The prosecutions commenced at Leeds Crown Court in July 2023, with six separate trials conducted. The final trial concluded in September 2024, and the last suspect was sentenced in 2025, reports Yorkshire Live.
However, due to reporting restrictions, it was not possible to disclose the names of those sentenced until now. The following individuals have received sentences:
- Aurrangzeb Azam, 56, from Dewsbury, has been sentenced to 20 years for ten counts of rape and one count of indecent assault.
- Shakeel Haq, 58, from Birmingham, received a 19-year sentence for three counts of rape and one count of false imprisonment.
- Rafiq Patel, 73, from Batley, was sentenced to 18 years for two counts of rape.
- Zaheed Ali Novsarka, 58, from Batley, received an 18-year sentence for two counts of rape.
- Mohammed Sheikh, 53, from Batley, was sentenced to 14 years for two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault.
- Mohammed Yasin, 52, from Batley, received a 14-year sentence for one count of rape and two counts of indecent assault. Liaquat Hussain Hanif, 49, from Batley, has been handed a sentence of 12 years and six months for two counts of rape and one count of supplying Class A drugs.
- Ebrahim Mananiat, 56, also from Batley, received a 12-year sentence for two counts of rape.
- Ibrahim Khalifa, 87, from Bradford, was sentenced to 11 years for two counts of rape.
- Shafiq Siddique, 56, from Dewsbury, was given an 11-year sentence for one count of rape.
- Mohammed Munir Shaffi, 48, from Dewsbury, was sentenced to nine years for two counts of rape.
- Mohammed Ishtiaq Hussain, 51, from Dewsbury, received an eight-year sentence for one count of rape.
- Abbas Kaji, 57, from Batley, was handed a seven-year sentence for one count of rape.
- Donna Lynn, 45, from Cleckheaton, was sentenced to three years for controlling prostitution.
- Tasawar Hussain, 46, from Dewsbury, received a three-year sentence for one count of rape.
Two other men were found by the court to have committed the acts they were charged with, but were deemed unfit to enter pleas.
DCI Rob Stevens of Kirklees District Police commented on the case: “This has been a major investigation into truly appalling sexual abuse of vulnerable girls in Kirklees by a large number of sexual predators.”
He added: “Over an almost two year period, juries have heard some shocking revelations about the dreadful way victims were abused by those involved.
“They were repeatedly sexually assaulted, in some cases given Class A drugs, and very much treated as commodities for the gratification of heartless predators.
“The very significant jailed terms given to some of these men, such as the 28-year sentence for Sajid Majid or the 20 year sentence handed to Aurrangzeb Azam who was found guilty of 10 separate rapes, speak volumes about their depravity and the abuse meted out to victims in this case.”
He continued: “Again, it cannot be stressed more highly that the reason this dreadful offending came to light was the courage of victims who have come forward and reported the offending they were subjected to. Every possible effort is made at West Yorkshire Police to support victims of sexual abuse, but we realise how difficult making reports and then supporting prosecutions can be.
“These women showed enormous bravery in giving evidence in lengthy trials and I hope they can feel a sense of pride in the determination they have displayed to see justice done, and in seeing people who have no place in society being put behind bars.
“More detail about how to make reports of non recent child sexual exploitation and abuse and support on offer can be found on our ‘When You Are Ready website at https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/WhenYouAreReady “.
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