CALDERDALE GROOMING GANG MEMBERS SENTENCED TO LONG PRISON TERMS
Fifteen men who "systematically" groomed and sexually exploited teenage girls in Halifax have been sentenced to prison.They were convicted of child sex offences including rape, grooming and trafficking during three separate trials at Leeds Crown Court.
Prosecutors praised the "immense courage and bravery" of the two victims who testified against the offenders.
The most severe sentence was 25 years, part of what was described as a "complex and lengthy operation".
The gang abused a young girl in Halifax and Bradford between 2009 and 2011, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
An additional victim was sexually assaulted by one of the gang members.
The case was marked as "the largest and longest-running investigation into child sexual exploitation in Calderdale." The police stated that the abuse was first reported in 2012 by a 15-year-old girl living in Halifax.
Another girl also came forward to testify against a different gang member.
The investigation involved nearly 60 hours of interviews with victims, 1,848 statements, 2,963 exhibits, and over 20,000 disclosure items.
In total, 25 men faced charges; four were cleared by a jury, and three acquitted on judicial orders.
Peter Mann, head of the complex casework unit for the CPS in Yorkshire and Humberside, highlighted the severity of the crimes and the bravery of the victims.
One victim described being sexually assaulted in a car, while the other was groomed and exploited by the offenders, with some acting together as groups, plying her with drinks and drugs.
The police reported the case as the biggest child exploitation investigation in Calderdale, with police conducting extensive interviews and processing massive amounts of evidence.
The defendants included Hedar Ali, 36, of Bradford, who was sentenced to 25 years for rape and trafficking, and Haider Ali, 41, of Halifax, sentenced to 20 years for sexual activity with a child and related charges.
Other offenders received sentences ranging from 6 to 17.5 years.
Many had denied the charges but were convicted after trial or pleaded guilty.
Sentencing is ongoing for one member who cannot be named for legal reasons.
