In February 2019, the Offender Database reported that nine men were sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to a total of over 132 years in prison. The group, which included ringleaders Basharat Khaliq, then 38, and Saeed Akhtar, then 55, was found guilty of the systematic sexual abuse and exploitation of two vulnerable girls who were living in a local authority children’s home in Bradford.
The court heard that the abuse began in 2008 when both victims were just 14 years old and had recently been placed in care. The men targeted the girls, subjecting them to an “appalling catalogue of degrading emotional and sexual abuse” that involved being provided with alcohol and drugs before being passed between the offenders for sexual purposes. Detective Superintendent Jonathan Morgan of West Yorkshire Police described the investigation as lengthy and challenging, emphasising that the offenders had “deprived the victims of their childhood” through a familiar pattern of predatory grooming.
The nine men received significant custodial sentences: Basharat Khaliq and Saeed Akhtar were both jailed for 20 years; Naveed Akhtar, Parvaze Ahmed, Kieran Harris, and Mohammed Usman were each sentenced to 17 years; Izar Hussain received 16 years; Fahim Iqbal was jailed for seven years; and Zeeshan Ali received an 18-month sentence. The abuse only came to light years later, in 2014, when one of the victims was interviewed by police in connection with a separate investigation. Paula Craven from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stated that the girls were deliberately targeted because of their extreme vulnerability.
During the sentencing, Judge Jonathan Rose described the abuse as humiliating and remarked that the men showed a callous disregard for the victims’ dignity and self-worth. He noted that sexual exploitation impacts victims in profound ways, eating into their trust and changing their lives forever. The court was told that the abuse continued even after the girls had left the care system, highlighting the persistent nature of the men’s predatory behaviour.
All nine men were ordered to register as sex offenders for life (except Zeeshan Ali, whose registration period corresponds to his sentence). They are also subject to lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs), which place strict restrictions on their future contact with children and their behaviour upon release. These orders are designed to monitor high-risk offenders and mitigate the threat they pose to the public.
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.