In February 2019, the Offender Database reported that a major grooming trial at Bradford Crown Court concluded with the conviction of nine men for a series of horrific sexual offences. After 26 hours of deliberation, the jury delivered unanimous verdicts against the group, which included ringleaders Basharat Khaliq, then 38, and Saeed Akhtar, then 55, for the systematic abuse of two vulnerable girls.
The court heard that the defendants, many of whom operated under street aliases, targeted the victims while they were in the care of the local authority. Basharat Khaliq, known as “Bash,” was found guilty of five counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration. Saeed Akhtar, known as “Sid,” was convicted of one count of rape and two counts of causing or inciting child prostitution. His brother, Naveed Akhtar, then 43, was also found guilty of two counts of rape, further exposing the family-linked nature of the predatory network.
The trial, which began in early January 2019, detailed how the men used their influence to exploit the girls over a sustained period. Parvaze Ahmed, then 36, was convicted of three rapes, while Izar Hussain, then 32, was found guilty of rape and attempted rape. In addition to the Bradford-based offenders, Kieran Harris and Fahim Iqbal, both then 28 and from Dewsbury, were convicted for their roles; Iqbal was specifically found guilty of aiding and abetting one of Harris’s rapes.
The sentencing judge emphasised the “calculated and predatory” nature of the gang, noting that they had collectively stripped the victims of their innocence. Mohammed Usman, then 31, and Zeeshan Ali, then 32, were also convicted for their involvement in the abuse. A tenth man, Yasar Majid of Milton Keynes, initially saw the jury unable to reach a verdict on a single charge of rape. However, the nine primary defendants were moved toward immediate custodial sentencing.
In early 2019, the nine convicted men were sentenced to a combined total of over 132 years in prison. All were ordered to register as sex offenders for life and were made subject to permanent Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPO). These orders strictly prohibit the men from contacting their victims or engaging in any unsupervised activity with children upon their eventual release.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.