ABDUL MAJID FROM HUDDERSFIELD SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRLS IN HUDDERSFIELD

A group of men involved in a disturbing grooming and sexual exploitation ring has been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their heinous crimes against young girls in the Huddersfield area. The case, which was heard at Leeds Crown Court, revealed a pattern of predatory behavior aimed at two vulnerable girls, beginning when they were just 13 and 14 years old. The offenders, including Abdul Majid, Usman Ali, Banaras Hussain, Gul Riaz, and two other men whose identities are protected for legal reasons, exploited the girls over a period spanning more than a decade, starting in 1995.

According to court proceedings, these men gained the girls’ trust through manipulative tactics, creating a false sense of security that allowed them to commit gross sexual abuses. The court heard that the victims were subjected to violence and threats, not only from the men but also against their families, which served to further control and silence them. The severity of the abuse was described as vile, wicked, and deeply disturbing by Judge Geoffrey Marson QC, who presided over the case.

Judge Marson emphasized the profound impact the abuse had on the victims, stating, “The way these girls were treated defies understanding. The abuse was vile and wicked. It is clear that both have been and remain profoundly affected by the abuse which ended some years ago.” The grooming process was characterized as insidious and persistent, with one victim often going missing and returning in a state of intoxication, sometimes naked and with injuries. One of the girls was raped by Usman Ali in his car, an encounter described as rough and aggressive, leaving her in tears. Abdul Majid was found to have raped her multiple times, often threatening her with not being taken home unless she submitted to his sexual demands.

The second victim was also subjected to repeated abuse, often drugged and intoxicated to facilitate the sexual assaults by the older men. Gul Riaz was convicted of raping her, as well as indecent assault, after he plied her with vodka at her father’s flat. The court heard victim impact statements, with one girl recounting her attempt to report the abuse to police in 1997, only to be disbelieved and feel betrayed by the authorities. The other girl’s childhood was described as being stolen from her due to the trauma she endured.

In total, six men received prison sentences totaling 55 years. Abdul Majid, aged 35 and from Huddersfield, was sentenced to 11 years after being convicted of two counts of rape. Usman Ali, 34, also from Huddersfield, received an eight-year sentence for two counts of rape. Gul Riaz, 43, from Huddersfield, was sentenced to 15 years for two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault. Banaras Hussain, 39, of Shipley, was given nine and a half years for a single count of rape. Two other men, whose identities are protected, were also convicted of rape, receiving sentences of eight and four years respectively.

Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Richard McNamara of West Yorkshire Police commented on the case, stating, “The sentences handed down to these men today reflect the depravity of their actions and I hope it will bring some comfort to their victims to see them jailed.” The case highlights the ongoing issues of grooming and sexual exploitation in the region, and the justice served aims to send a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.