ABDUL REHMAN AND OTHERS FROM SHEFFIELD AND HUDDERSFIELD CONVICTED IN BRADFORD AND LEEDS FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL ABUSE

A group of five men, all previously convicted for their involvement in a notorious grooming gang operating in Huddersfield, have been found guilty of additional serious offences. Among them is Abdul Rehman, a 36-year-old man from Sheffield, who was sentenced to nearly four years in prison. The convictions were handed down at Bradford Crown Court following a comprehensive trial that concluded on Thursday, with the men being held accountable for crimes committed over a span of several years.

These individuals, including Mohammed Kammer, Nahman Mohammed, Wiqas Mahmud, and Mohammed Imran Ibrar, were convicted of a range of heinous offences, including multiple counts of rape and the illegal supply of drugs. The crimes they committed involved the abuse of a young girl in the Huddersfield area, with the abuse taking place between 2005 and 2010. The victim was just 14 years old when the abuse began, highlighting the disturbing nature of these offences.

The investigation into these crimes was part of a larger operation known as Operation Tendersea, conducted by West Yorkshire Police. This operation has been ongoing since 2018 and has uncovered a disturbing pattern of child sexual abuse spanning from 1995 to 2013. Over the course of the investigation, more than 500 years of combined prison sentences have been handed down to convicted sex offenders, underscoring the severity and scale of the criminal activity.

During the recent trial, which concluded on 9 February, the defendants were convicted for a second time, having previously served time in prison for similar offences. Abdul Rehman, along with Wiqas Mahmud and Mohammed Imran Ibrar, was also jailed at Bradford Crown Court for their roles in the abuse. The case revealed that the abuse was perpetrated over several years, with the victims being particularly vulnerable due to their age and circumstances.

Details of the sentences handed down include Abdul Rehman receiving a sentence of three years and eleven months. He was convicted of two offences related to engaging in or facilitating child sex offences and supplying drugs. Mohammed Kammer, from Huddersfield, received a sentence of seven years and six months after being convicted of three counts of rape and one trafficking offence related to sexual exploitation. Nahman Mohammed, also from Huddersfield, was sentenced to seven years after being found guilty of two rape offences and trafficking for sexual exploitation. Wiqas Mahmud, aged 42 from Huddersfield, received a sentence of six years and three months for a single rape offence. Lastly, Mohammed Imran Ibrar, aged 38 from Huddersfield, was sentenced to five years for sexual assault and one rape offence; however, due to time already served, he will serve approximately three years and six months.

These convictions are part of a broader effort by West Yorkshire Police to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The force’s operation has resulted in the conviction of 42 men, some of whom have faced multiple trials. Detective Chief Inspector Ian Thornes emphasized the gravity of the investigation, describing it as a response to “truly evil sexual abuse.” He stated, “These were vulnerable young teenage girls who endured utterly sickening offences committed by persons who demonstrated standards of behaviour which means they are not fit to walk the streets.”

If anyone has been affected by the issues raised in this case, support and information are available through the BBC Action Line, which provides resources for victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.