HALIFAX POLICE OFFICER AMONG 16 CHARGED WITH CHILD SEX OFFENCES, COURT HEARS
A police officer and 15 other men from Halifax have appeared at Bradford Magistrates' Court accused of serious sexual offences against children.The charges include rape, supplying drugs, trafficking, sexual assault, and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, involving three teenage girls between 2006 and 2009.
PC Amjad Ditta, a West Yorkshire Police officer, faces a single charge of sexual touching and has been suspended from duty.
He and the other defendants, all from Halifax, were granted bail and are scheduled to appear at Bradford Crown Court on 20 January.
The victims were between 13 and 16 years old at the time of the offences.
The court was told that the alleged crimes are too serious for magistrates to handle and must be prosecuted at a higher level.
Several of the accused tried to cover their faces leaving the court, indicating the sensitivity of the case.
