SHAHZAD NOWAZ: HALIFAX MAN JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE
In Calderdale, 20 men have been sentenced to over two centuries of imprisonment after an investigation into historical child sexual abuse cases.The total combined sentences amount to 219 years, following their convictions for raping and abusing young girls.
The cases, which involved four girls aged 12 to 16, emerged from multiple investigations and court trials that uncovered their exploitation.
Court-imposed restrictions during the trials aimed to protect the process, but these have now been removed.
The initial inquiry began in 2016, centering on allegations of child sexual exploitation involving two girls from Calderdale, with abuse spanning from 2006 to 2009, during which the girls were aged 13 to 16.
At Bradford Crown Court, a trial commenced on October 21 and resulted in convictions for several individuals: - Shahzad Nowaz, 45, from Halifax, was sentenced to a total of 11 years for rape and threats to kill.
- Nadeem Nassir, 44, also from Halifax, received an 11-year sentence for similar charges.
- Sajid Adalat, 48, of Halifax, was sentenced to seven years for rape.
- Sohail Zaffer, 41, of Halifax, pled guilty to rape and supplying a class C drug, leading to a 42-month jail term.
- Shazad Nazir, 49, of Halifax, received an 11-year sentence after conviction.
A separate trial opened in January 2022, which convicted: - Nadeem Adalat, 39, from Halifax, of rape, and he was initially sentenced to 14 years, with the sentence later increased to 16 years following an appeal.
- Asad Mahmood, 38, of Halifax, was sentenced to 13 years for rape.
- Mohammed Rizwan Iqbal, 39, from Halifax, received a nine-year sentence.
- Vaseem Adalat, 38, of Halifax, was sentenced to 12 years, increased to around 14 years and 6 months after an appeal.
In 2016, authorities also looked into repeated sexual abuse of a vulnerable girl between 2002 and 2006, starting when she was 13.
The August 2022 trial in that case saw: - Amir Shaban, 48, of Halifax, sentenced to 10 years for rape.
The October 2022 case resulted in: - Malik Quadeer, 67, of Halifax, convicted of five counts of rape and sentenced to 22 years.
- Mohammed Ziarab, 55, of Halifax, received a 10-year sentence.
- Imran Raja Yasin, 45, of Halifax, was given 10 years.
- Kamran Amin, 48, of Halifax, sentenced to 10 years.
- Mohammed Akhtar, 54, of Halifax, who died in custody, was sentenced to 11 years.
Finally, a January 2024 trial in Bradford Crown Court involved: - Haroon Sadiq, 40, of Halifax, convicted of two counts of rape and sentenced to 10 years.
- Shafiq Ali Rafiq, 44, of Dewsbury, received a 12-year sentence for two counts of rape.
- Sarfraz Rabnawaz, 39, from Bradford, was sentenced to 9 years.
An additional investigation into abuse between 2001 and 2002 involving a girl aged 12 to 13 concluded with: - Craig Mitchell, 55, of Halifax, being found guilty of rape and receiving a 12-year sentence in December 2023.
Calderdale-based Detective Chief Inspector Claire Smith emphasized the courage of victims and survivors, highlighting the importance of reporting abuse at any stage.
She assured that specially trained officers handle such cases diligently, aiming to continue removing offenders and protecting vulnerable individuals from such harm.
