SHAQEEL HUSSAIN AND THE SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE IN YORKSHIRE

On April 22, Shaqeel Hussain, a resident of Spen Valley Road in Yorkshire, was sentenced to a 12-month prison term in connection with a separate criminal case that was part of the broader Operation Tendersea investigation. Hussain, aged 36, pleaded guilty to committing an indecent assault on a 16-year-old girl in Huddersfield during the years 2004 and 2005.

This recent sentencing adds to Hussain’s criminal record, which already includes a significant conviction from a previous trial under Operation Tendersea. In that earlier case, which took place in February 2020, Hussain was found guilty of the sexual abuse of two young girls in the Huddersfield area, with incidents spanning from 1995 to 2011. During that trial, he was sentenced to serve eight years in prison for the rape of a 14-year-old girl. The court also ordered that his current 12-month sentence for the indecent assault be served consecutively, meaning he will serve a total of nine years for these heinous crimes.

The case involving Hussain is part of a larger, ongoing investigation by West Yorkshire Police aimed at tackling the sexual exploitation of young girls in Huddersfield over a period of more than a decade. The operation has uncovered a disturbing pattern of abuse, with multiple offenders being brought to justice.

In addition to Hussain’s case, another man, Manzoor Akhtar, aged 31 and from Crosland Moor in Huddersfield, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison at Leeds Crown Court on April 22. Akhtar was convicted of raping a young girl between 2005 and 2006, with the court hearing that the victim was between 13 and 14 years old at the time of the assault. His conviction marks him as the latest individual to be held accountable within the scope of Operation Tendersea, which has been investigating the sexual abuse of girls in the Huddersfield area from 1995 through 2011.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard McNamara of the Kirklees District CID expressed his strong condemnation of the offenders’ actions. 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.”

Regarding Hussain’s recent sentencing, DCI McNamara also confirmed that Hussain can now be publicly named, as reporting restrictions have been lifted. He explained, “Hussain was convicted for rape in an Operation Tendersea trial in February 2020, but at that time, we were not able to release his identity. He has now been sentenced after pleading guilty to an indecent assault on a 16-year-old victim, and he can be named as restrictions have been removed.”

He further emphasized the severity of Hussain’s crimes, stating, “He will face a total of nine years in prison for both of these depraved offences, showing a complete disregard for his victims.”

DCI McNamara also praised the bravery of the victims who came forward, saying, “A recurring feature of these cases has been the remarkable courage of the young women who have spoken out about the abuse they endured. Their willingness to support police and CPS efforts to bring offenders like Manzoor Akhtar and Shaqeel Hussain to justice is instrumental in removing such dangerous predators from our streets and ensuring they are held accountable for their actions.”