AESAN PERVEZ AND FURQAAN GHAFAR SENTENCED IN DERBY AND HALIFAX CHILD SEX ABUSE CASE
In a landmark case that has shaken the communities of Halifax and Derby, two men have been sentenced for their involvement in a disturbing child sex abuse ring that targeted a vulnerable schoolgirl.The investigation, which spanned over four years and was conducted by West Yorkshire police, culminated in the sentencing of 17 individuals, with the total prison time exceeding 175 years.
An additional man, convicted solely of supplying cannabis to the victim, received a 10-month sentence.
Among those sentenced was Aesan Pervez, aged 27, originally from Halifax.
He was handed a four-year prison term after a jury found him guilty of sexual assault against the teenage girl during a trial at Leeds Crown Court.
Pervez had also pleaded guilty to robbing a fellow teenager of a mobile phone and to charges of intimidation while on bail earlier this year.
The court heard that Pervez was present at a house in Halifax where the girl, then only 14, was also present.
Witnesses described her as being intoxicated, having been supplied with cocaine by another individual, before Pervez initiated physical contact by stroking her leg and expressing his attraction towards her.
On May 11, while on bail, Pervez visited Halifax’s People’s Park, where he encountered two youths aged 15 and 16.
These youths had already been approached by two other men.
Prosecutor Nicholas Askins explained that Pervez joined a group of four and demanded to see the 16-year-old’s mobile phone.
When the youth refused, Pervez was told to hand over the device or face severe consequences.
The situation escalated as one of Pervez’s associates threatened the youth with nunchucks, a martial arts weapon, while Pervez forcibly took the £600 phone from his pocket.
The assailants then demanded the PIN and password, threatening the youth’s family if he refused.
Overcome with fear, the teenager complied and later reported the incident to police after the event.
Further incidents occurred on May 17, when the same youth was approached again by Pervez while walking towards Halifax town centre.
During this encounter, Pervez threatened him, saying, “I’ll put you both in body bags,” if he reported the threats to the police.
Pervez’s actions exemplify a pattern of intimidation and violence aimed at silencing victims and witnesses.
The second individual sentenced was Furqaan Ghafar, aged 31 from Derby.
He received a prison term of five years and three months after admitting to engaging in sexual activity with the schoolgirl.
The court was informed that the girl’s father discovered sexually explicit messages on her phone, which were traced back to Ghafar.
The girl recounted that she first met Ghafar in Bradford in 2011, exchanging contact details.
Subsequently, Ghafar contacted her, inviting her to meet, and she traveled from Halifax to Bradford by train.
On that occasion, Ghafar and another man picked her up and took her to a house, where he provided her with £20 to buy vodka and smoked cannabis with her.
Although no sexual activity occurred during this initial meeting, she was later contacted again, taken to the same house, and engaged in unprotected sex with Ghafar after sleeping with another man and smoking cannabis.
Judge Geoffrey Marson QC emphasized the severity of the abuse, highlighting the vulnerability of the young girl and the psychological trauma she endured.
He stated, “Courts have a duty to protect vulnerable children even from themselves.” Addressing Ghafar directly, the judge added, “When you committed these offences, she was almost 16.
By then, it was obvious to anyone that she was deeply damaged and particularly vulnerable.” This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and protect at-risk youth from predatory individuals.
The community remains urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities to prevent further tragedies.
