Bradford grooming gang jailed for total of 132 years for raping and abusing under-age girls in care

Prosecutors say victims suffered 'appalling catalogue of degrading emotional and sexual abuse which has deprived them of their childhood'

Clockwise from top left: Basharat Khaliq, Kieran Harris, Naveed Akhtar, Mohammed Usman, Izar Hussain and Fahim Iqbal (West Yorkshire Police)

A grooming gang of nine men has been jailed for a total of 132 years for an “appalling catalogue” of sexual abuse against two young girls in Bradford.

The girls were first sexually exploited when they were placed in care.

Prosecutors said it was “a pattern which is all too familiar in cases of this kind”.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the abuse began with Basharat Khaliq, 38, exploiting the girls in 2008 when both were 14 years old and had recently been placed in a children’s home run by Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

Khaliq, who was jailed at Bradford Crown Court for 20 years on Wednesday, went on to exploit one of the victims for a further three years.

The CPS said the other victim was exploited by numerous men, given alcohol and drugs and passed from one abuser to another.

A spokesman said the abuse of these vulnerable victims continued after they left the care system.

The attacks came to light when one of the victims was interviewed by police in connection with another investigation into child sexual exploitation.

Parvaze Ahmed, Saeed Akhtar and Zeeshan Ali (West Yorkshire Police)

“These two girls were deliberately targeted because of their vulnerability,” Paula Craven, from the CPS, said.

“Sadly, the exploitation followed a pattern which is all too familiar in cases of this kind.

“These victims suffered an appalling catalogue of degrading emotional and sexual abuse which has deprived them of their childhood.”

Detective Superintendent Jonathan Morgan, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “I would like to highlight the courage and tenacity of the victims to go through the court process and who have maintained trust in the police and the criminal justice system throughout.

“I hope that today’s result provides the impetus for other victims to come forward and report matters to the police or safeguarding partners.”

Basharat Khaliq, of Glaisdale Court, Allerton, Bradford, was found guilty of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, police said. He was jailed for 20 years.

Saeed Akhtar, 55, of Back Girlington Road, Bradford, was found guilty of one charge of rape and two charges of causing or inciting child prostitution. He was jailed for 20 years.

Naveed Akhtar, 43, of Newport Place, Bradford, was found guilty of two counts of rape. He was jailed for 17 years.

Parvaze Ahmed, 36, of Farcliffe Road, Bradford, was found guilty of three charges of rape. He was jailed for 17 years.

Izar Hussain, 32, of St Leonard’s Road, Bradford, was found guilty of rape. He was jailed for 16 years.

Zeeshan Ali, 32, of Durham Terrace, Bradford, was found guilty of sexual assault. He was jailed for 18 months.

Kieran Harris, 28, of Fir Parade, Dewsbury, was found guilty of two counts of rape . He was jailed for 17 years.

Fahim Iqbal, 28, of Quarry Road, Dewsbury, was found guilty of aiding and abetting one of Harris’s rapes. He was jailed for seven years.

Mohammed Usman, 31, of Quaker Street, Bradford, was found guilty of two counts of rape. He was jailed for 17 years.

Additional reporting by Press Association