MANZOOR AKHTAR AND SHAQEEL HUSSAIN SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE IN HUDDERSFIELD AND DEWSBURY

Manzoor Akhtar, aged 31, has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a young girl during the years 2005 and 2006. Akhtar, who resides in the Crosland Moor area of Huddersfield, is the latest individual to be convicted as part of the extensive Operation Tendersea investigation, which has uncovered a disturbing pattern of historic sexual abuse involving young girls in the region.

The investigation has revealed that multiple men committed acts of abuse against girls in Huddersfield between 1995 and 2011. To date, a total of 35 men have been convicted and sentenced to a combined total of 380 years in prison for their involvement in these heinous crimes. The court proceedings detailed how Akhtar sexually assaulted his victim when she was between 13 and 14 years old, highlighting the grave nature of his offenses.

Akhtar’s sentencing took place at Leeds Crown Court last Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to bring justice to the victims of these historic abuses. In addition to Akhtar’s conviction, another man from Dewsbury, Shaqeel Hussain, aged 36, was also sentenced to 12 months in prison as part of the same investigation. Hussain, who lives on Spen Valley Road in Dewsbury, pleaded guilty to an indecent assault committed in Huddersfield between 2004 and 2005, involving a 16-year-old girl.

Hussain is already serving an eight-year sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old girl, which was also part of the Tendersea operation, following a trial held in February of this year. The court ordered that Hussain serve his new 12-month sentence consecutively, meaning he will serve a total of nine years for his multiple offenses. His actions demonstrate a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior and a blatant disregard for the well-being of his victims.

Commenting on the convictions, Detective Chief Inspector Richard McNamara of the Kirklees District CID expressed his strong support for the verdicts. He stated, “Akhtar richly deserves the prison sentence he has been given after being found guilty and convicted for the dreadful sexual abuse of this young victim. He thought nothing of this girl’s obvious very young age as he raped her and treated her in a fashion which can only be described as callous in the extreme.”

DCI McNamara also emphasized the importance of transparency and justice in the case of Shaqeel Hussain. He explained, “Hussain was convicted for rape in an Operation Tendersea trial in February 2020, but at that time, we were unable to release his identity. Now that reporting restrictions have been lifted, he can be publicly named. Hussain has been sentenced to a total of nine years in prison for these depraved offenses, which show a complete lack of regard for his victims.”

The detective inspector highlighted the bravery of the victims who came forward to share their experiences, acknowledging that their courage has been instrumental in dismantling these predatory networks. “The resilience and bravery of these young women in speaking out and supporting the police and CPS have been crucial in ensuring that dangerous offenders like Manzoor Akhtar and Shaqeel Hussain are removed from our streets and held accountable for their actions,” he concluded.

This case underscores the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to pursue justice for victims of sexual abuse, especially in cases involving historical offenses. The community continues to be reminded of the importance of supporting victims and ensuring that those who commit such crimes are brought to justice and face the full consequences of their actions.