In 2019, the Offender Database reported that the Court of Appeal, sitting in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, dismissed the “dishonest” appeals of six men involved in a “vicious” and “horrendous” child grooming gang. The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, emphasised that the ordeal suffered by the teenage victim “transcends the imagination of most people,” describing her as being “vilely” passed around as a “sex toy” for the gratification of a large group of men.
The “serious” investigation by West Yorkshire Police originally led to the conviction of 15 men in 2016 at Leeds Crown Court. The court heard how the victim, then only 13 when the abuse began, was “callously” preyed upon by as many as 100 men in the Halifax area of West Yorkshire. She was “viciously” plied with drink and drugs and used as a “serial sexual plaything” by the appellants and many others.
The “Vile” Offenders and Their Sentences
The six men, who “dishonestly” attempted to argue that their individual roles in the girl’s “profound” psychological harm had been exaggerated, saw their “serious” sentences upheld by the nation’s top judges:
- Hedar Ali, then 36, of Bradford, West Yorkshire: Serving 25 years for two counts of rape and two counts of trafficking for sexual exploitation.
- Haider Ali, then 41, of Halifax, West Yorkshire: Serving 20 years for sexual activity with a child and causing a person to engage in sexual activity.
- Khalid Zaman, then 38, of Bradford, West Yorkshire: Serving 17-and-a-half years for two counts of rape and supplying Class B drugs.
- Mohammed Ramzan, then 35, of Bradford, West Yorkshire: Serving 15 years for rape.
- Tahir Mahmood, then 43, of Halifax, West Yorkshire: Serving 11 years for sexual activity with a child and sexual assault.
- Taukeer Butt, then 31, of Halifax, West Yorkshire: Serving 10 years for four counts of sexual activity with a child.
Judicial Condemnation and Lifelong Monitoring
Lord Burnett emphasised that it was difficult to imagine a child being more damaged by sexual abuse than the victim in this “vile” case. He rejected the barristers’ arguments, noting that the “extreme vulnerability” of the girl and the way she was “callously” passed from “pillar to post” justified the most “serious” sentencing categories.
- As a result of their “vicious” convictions for child rape, trafficking, and sexual exploitation, all six men are:
- Ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
- Subject to strict monitoring under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) upon release.
They will be managed by West Yorkshire Police, ensuring their behaviour in Halifax, Bradford, and the wider region is under “serious” scrutiny for the rest of their lives. Any future “vile” conduct or breach of their registration will result in their immediate arrest.
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.