A Bradford grooming gang of 15 men has been sentenced to a total of 188 years in prison for repeatedly sexually abusing a teenage girl, ending a long-running investigation and a series of court trials spanning several years.The men committed a total of 88 rapes between 2007 and 2011, with the victims aged between 14 and 18 years old.Reporting restrictions preventing details of the case from being published were lifted at Bradford Crown Court following the conclusion of all relevant trials.
Survivor: ‘This has consumed nearly 20 years of my life’
The survivor said after the sentencing that the abuse had left her scarred for life and robbed her of her childhood.“The people involved took more from me than I can ever describe in words,” she said.“All in all, this incident consumed just 20 years of my life and it’s not something I can forget.” She added that the trauma she suffered as a teenager would stay with her for the rest of her life.
Investigation begins after missing persons report attracts attention
In late 2015, police first identified the woman as a potential victim of child sexual exploitation after reviewing multiple missing persons reports related to the woman.A comprehensive investigation was launched in February 2016, resulting in the prosecution of multiple suspects. Due to the complexity of the case, the case was subsequently divided into multiple trials.
sentenced to long term imprisonment
The sentences reflect the scale of the crimes and number of rapes committed by individual members of the group.Those with the longest sentences include Yousaf Bhatti, who was jailed for 17 years for eight rapes, and Anwar Aziz, Omar Taj and Faisal Rashid, who were sentenced to 15 years for multiple rapes.The other defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from eight to more than 13 years.
Police praise victim’s courage
Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Greenbank described the crimes as “abhorrent” and praised the survivors for their courage throughout the investigation and court proceedings.“These men horrifically abused children for their own sexual gratification,” she said. “Their behavior was abhorrent and they deserve long prison terms.”She added that she hoped the convictions would encourage other victims of abuse to come forward, no matter how long it has been since the crime took place.Authorities said the outcome brought a measure of justice to survivors after years of legal battles, with reporting restrictions now lifted.Police said they hope the case sends a clear message that child sexual exploitation crimes will be pursued no matter how long ago they occurred.
