Usman Khalid and Mohammed Akram, two grooming gang members, who raped a 12-year-old girl have been sentenced to 27 years in jail collectively. They were found guilty by the Leeds Crown Court after a trial. They picked up the girl when she was just 11years and sexually abused the victim over a number of years. Khalid was sentenced to five years and Akram 22 years, to run concurrently to the 17 year sentence he was already serving.
The pair are the latest to be jailed following investigations by West Yorkshire Police as part of Operation Tendersea. Between January and October last year 20 men were convicted and locked up for a total of 257 years for crimes that took place between 2004 and 2011. Prosecutor Richard Wright QC said the girl was particularly vulnerable, having been taken away from her drug addicted mother and put in care. The first man to rape her was Zahid Hassan who is currently serving an 18 year sentence for multiple rapes.
Akram is already serving a 17 year jail term for sexual exploitation of two victims. In May he was also found guilty of trafficking for sexual exploitation, abduction, rape of a child under the age of 13. His argument that he believed the girl was 18 failed to convince jurors. His defence lawyer Gillian Batts argued his age at the time of the crime - either 16 or 17 - provided mitigation for what was a "one off offence". She also pointed to his community work and strong character references from his mother, sister and wife as reason for him receiving a more lenient sentence.
Following their convictions DCI Richard McNamara, of Kirklees District Police, said: “This investigation has been extremely sensitive and complex and we are pleased that these convictions have been secured for the victim.” Child sexual exploitation is one of the most important challenges facing the police and is a top priority for West Yorkshire Police.
