USMAN SULTAN SENTENCED IN KEIGHLEY FOR REPEATED RAPE OF VULNERABLE SCHOOLGIRL
In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Keighley, Usman Sultan, aged 30, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the repeated sexual assault of a vulnerable schoolgirl.The crimes took place in 2009, during which Sultan, along with a group of male accomplices, subjected the young girl to a series of heinous acts involving drugs, alcohol, and degrading sexual abuse.
According to court proceedings, Sultan committed three separate rapes against the girl when she was just a minor, aged approximately 16 or 17.
The first assault occurred in a toilet, where he forcibly grabbed her and raped her while she was crying and shouting ‘no’.
Witnesses outside the room reportedly laughed and egged him on during this assault.
The second incident took place in a park in Keighley, where she had initially agreed to meet Sultan, believing he liked her.
The third assault happened inside a car, with Sultan being encouraged by other males present in the vehicle to carry out the act.
Prosecutor Kama Melly QC detailed that Sultan’s actions were part of a pattern of grooming and exploitation.
The girl was deliberately plied with alcohol and drugs, which facilitated her psychological and emotional degradation.
Her victim personal statement, read aloud in court, described the profound psychological scars left by these traumatic experiences, including the development of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The statement was described as ‘harrowing’ by Judge Andrew Hatton, who presided over the case.
During the sentencing, Judge Hatton emphasized that Sultan’s conduct was part of a broader pattern of grooming and sexual exploitation.
The judge noted that the girl had been subjected to repeated abuse by multiple men, with Sultan being a central figure in her victimization.
Sultan was visibly emotional during the hearing, weeping as the judge delivered the sentence.
It was also revealed that Sultan had prior convictions, including offences of affray and public order, and in 2014, he was jailed for a violent offence.
These previous convictions underscored a pattern of violent and disruptive behavior.
Sultan was convicted by a jury at Bradford Crown Court last year of three counts of rape.
He was remanded to HMP Leeds, where he remains in custody.
Under the terms of his sentence, he will serve two-thirds of the 12-year term before being eligible for release on licence.
Additionally, he is required to sign the sex offender register for the remainder of his life.
It is also noted that the other individuals involved in the case have already been sentenced and jailed, highlighting the collective nature of the exploitation and abuse inflicted upon the young girl in Keighley.
