SHIPLEY MAN NASER MAHMOOD SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN BRADFORD

In a case that has shocked the community of Shipley and the wider Bradford area, Naser Mahmood, a 37-year-old local businessman, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 16 years for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against two young girls during his teenage years. The conviction was handed down at Bradford Crown Court following a detailed trial that revealed the disturbing extent of his abuse.

Mahmood, who resides on Bradford Road in Shipley, was found guilty of two counts of rape and six counts of indecent assault. The court proceedings uncovered that the abuse took place over a span of several years, beginning when Mahmood was between 14 and 18 years old. The victims, whose identities remain protected, endured multiple assaults, with one girl being subjected to a sexual assault after Mahmood coerced her into swearing on the Quran, threatening her with death if she disclosed the abuse. During this incident, Mahmood told her, “Promise you won’t tell anyone or I will kill you,” a statement that underscores the severity of his intimidation tactics.

The court heard that Mahmood’s offending behavior escalated from indecent assaults to full rape over the course of four years. Despite the long duration of his abuse, the crimes only came to light nearly two decades later. One of the victims reported the abuse in 2012, but she did not pursue the matter further at that time. It was only in 2016 that police were formally alerted to the allegations, leading to Mahmood’s arrest and subsequent trial. During police interviews, Mahmood denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the women were lying. Nevertheless, the jury found him guilty of all charges after a thorough trial.

The court was informed that the abuse ceased when Mahmood turned 18, coinciding with the age at which the victims were deemed capable of confronting him. The sentencing judge, Neil Davey QC, emphasized the gravity of Mahmood’s actions, particularly highlighting his attempt to silence one of his victims by making her swear on the Quran. Judge Davey remarked, “It was pointed out that she didn’t take swearing on the Quran seriously, but you meant that to be an effective method to keep her quiet and to prevent her from telling anyone what you had done. When you made her swear on the holy book, you knew perfectly well that what you were doing was wrong. It’s plain that your conduct towards her over several years caused her significant harm.”

During the sentencing, Mahmood showed no visible emotion as he was led away to begin his prison term. His defense lawyer, Abbas Lakha QC, highlighted that Mahmood is a married father of two and has been a successful businessman, running his family’s enterprise on Bradford Road. Lakha emphasized that Mahmood’s life since the offenses has been free of further misconduct and that he has contributed positively to his community, employing 18 people whose livelihoods depend on his business.

In conclusion, the court’s decision reflects the seriousness of child sexual abuse and the importance of justice for victims. Mahmood’s case serves as a stark reminder of the long-lasting impact such crimes have on victims and the need for rigorous legal action to protect vulnerable individuals from harm.