HALIFAX MAN SOHAIL ZAFFER JAILED IN CHILD ABUSE CASE
Twenty men have been sentenced to a total of more than 200 years in prison following an extensive investigation into historic child sexual abuse in Calderdale.Their combined sentences amount to 219 years after being convicted of raping and abusing young girls.
The case stemmed from successive investigations and court trials that proved the men had sexually exploited four girls aged 12 to 16 in the Calderdale area.
Legal restrictions were initially placed on the proceedings but have since been lifted.
The original inquiry, launched in 2016, examined allegations of abuse and exploitation involving two girls from 2006 to 2009, when they were between 13 and 16 years old.
The trial at Bradford Crown Court, which commenced on October 21, resulted in convictions for Shahzad Nowaz, Nadeem Nassir, Sajid Adalat, Sohail Zaffer, and Shazad Nazir for rape and related charges, with prison terms ranging from 7 to 11 years.
Additional convictions in trials conducted in 2022 and 2024 identified other offenders, including Amir Shaban (10 years), Malik Quadeer (22 years), and Mohammed Ziarab (10 years), among others, with sentences reaching up to 16 years.
Detective Chief Inspector Claire Smith, leading the investigation, emphasized the importance of victims’ bravery and highlighted ongoing police efforts to fight child sexual exploitation.
She urged victims to report abuse and seek help, noting that reports of past offenses are managed by specially trained officers.
The police also offer multiple reporting options, such as online forms and phone lines, to assist those affected by such crimes.
