MOHAMMED AZEEM FROM BRADFORD AMONG 20 GROOMING GANG MEMBERS CONVICTED IN WEST YORKSHIRE

A disturbing and extensive grooming operation involving twenty men has culminated in their conviction for a series of heinous crimes committed across West Yorkshire, with one of the offenders hailing from Bradford. The group was found guilty of trafficking, drugging, and sexually abusing vulnerable young girls in a campaign marked by cruelty and calculated predation.

Among the convicted individuals, Mohammed Azeem, aged 33 and residing in Bradford, received a significant sentence of 18 years in prison. His crimes, along with those of his accomplices, have shocked the region and highlighted the severity of child exploitation issues in the area.

The case, which is believed to be the largest of its kind in Britain, was brought to light after a series of lengthy trials. The proceedings revealed that the gang’s activities spanned from 2004 to 2011, targeting girls as young as 11. The victims, many of whom came from troubled backgrounds, were subjected to a systematic pattern of abuse involving alcohol, drugs, and coercion in various locations including car parks, hotels, takeaways, snooker halls, and remote areas such as moors and reservoirs across West Yorkshire.

One particularly harrowing account involved an 11 or 12-year-old girl who was abducted from a care home, supplied with ecstasy, and forced into sexual acts, as detailed during the Leeds Crown Court proceedings. The victims endured repeated assaults, often after being plied with alcohol and drugs at house parties, with some being raped one after another by members of the gang. Disturbingly, plastic bags were used as makeshift condoms during some of these assaults.

The gang members, including Mohammed Azeem, operated with a disturbing level of organization and camaraderie, often referring to each other with nicknames such as “Dracula,” “Beastie,” and “Chiller.” The court heard that Azeem was at the core of this group, which trafficked girls across the region, filmed their abuse on his mobile phone, and committed countless rapes. His treatment of the victims was described as “inhuman,” with one incident involving sexual abuse using a drinks bottle during a game of truth or dare. On another occasion, an intoxicated 15-year-old girl was raped by a man in a “dare” orchestrated by Azeem, with others present watching the assault. The judge condemned these acts as “degrading and wicked.”

The victims were deliberately targeted due to their vulnerabilities. Many had troubled home lives, with some suffering from learning disabilities, and others having attempted suicide or undergone abortions. One girl was thrown out of a moving car outside her home, sustaining bruises and under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The perpetrators exploited their trust, offering gifts, rides in cars, and false affection to lure them into dangerous situations.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC emphasized the profound and lasting impact on the victims and their families, stating that many of the girls might never fully recover from the trauma inflicted upon them. He described the case as being at the top of the scale of severity for sexual abuse cases, noting that none of the offenders showed remorse. The judge condemned the planning and predatory nature of the crimes, which involved threats, intimidation, and the systematic use of substances to facilitate abuse.

The legal proceedings also saw the partial lifting of reporting restrictions, allowing the media to disclose details of the case following a legal challenge by media outlets including The Guardian. The case had previously been complicated by an incident involving Tommy Robinson, an anti-Islam activist, who filmed defendants outside Leeds Crown Court, nearly causing the trial to collapse. Robinson was later jailed for contempt of court, though that ruling was subsequently quashed, and he is scheduled for a retrial at the Old Bailey.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Mottershaw of West Yorkshire Police praised the bravery of the victims and urged others who have suffered similar exploitation to come forward. He described the offenders as “depraved individuals” responsible for “unthinkable sexual and physical abuse” of young children.

The convicted men, including Mohammed Azeem from Bradford, received sentences ranging from five to life imprisonment. Azeem’s sentence of 18 years reflects the gravity of his crimes and the impact on the victims. The other men, mostly from Huddersfield and surrounding areas, received sentences between five and 18 years, with some awaiting sentencing scheduled for November.

This case underscores the ongoing challenge of child sexual exploitation and the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable young girls from predatory groups operating across West Yorkshire.