AKBAR ALI KAJI FROM HUDDERSFIELD AND STAINCLIFFE JAILED FOR MOLESTING CHILDREN AT WAKEFIELD AND HUDDERSFIELD POOLS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Huddersfield, Staincliffe, and Wakefield, Akbar Ali Kaji, a 40-year-old man from Woodsome Estate in Staincliffe, has been sentenced to nine months in prison after being found guilty of multiple sexual offenses involving children at swimming pools in the region.

According to court records, Kaji was previously convicted in May 2004 for similar offenses. At that time, he received a two-year community rehabilitation order following incidents at the Lightwaves Leisure Centre in Wakefield, where he indecently assaulted teenage girls. As part of that sentence, Kaji was mandated to participate in a sex offender treatment program. However, Judge Jonathan Rose noted during the recent sentencing that this intervention had failed to prevent his reoffending.

It was revealed that Kaji, who has eyesight issues and walks with the assistance of a white stick, had also been subject to a five-year ban from swimming pools. This ban had expired by the time he began targeting young children at Huddersfield Sports Centre. The court heard that Kaji repeatedly touched the bottoms, legs, and arms of four girls aged between nine and 12 while they were swimming. These inappropriate behaviors were documented by the centre’s lifeguards, who kept a detailed diary of incidents involving Kaji during his visits.

In addition to the physical misconduct, Kaji was also accused of exposing his penis to a seven-year-old girl in a changing room while her father was momentarily distracted. These actions led to him admitting to four counts of sexual assault and one count of exposure. Kaji’s legal representative, barrister Richard Clews, urged the court to consider a lesser sentence, such as a community order or a suspended prison term. However, Judge Rose dismissed these pleas, emphasizing the severity of Kaji’s actions.

During the sentencing, Judge Rose highlighted that Kaji, who is married and has a son, also cares for his father. The judge pointed out that although Kaji does not suffer from any psychiatric or psychological illnesses, he has a high sex drive and a disturbing pattern of seeking out children for sexual gratification. The court was told that Kaji admitted to targeting younger girls because they were more vulnerable and less likely to report his misconduct, although he also admitted to touching adult females during swimming sessions.

Judge Rose expressed concern over the emotional impact on the children, stating, “For a child in a swimming costume to be touched not once but repeatedly by a stranger – a strange man significantly older than them – is upsetting, distressing, and almost certainly quite frightening.” While no physical injuries were inflicted, the judge underscored the psychological harm caused by such invasive acts.

To protect the public from further harm, the court imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order on Kaji. This order prohibits him from entering any swimming pool that is not exclusively for individuals over 18 years of age. The judge emphasized that society must condemn such predatory behavior, stating, “The public also has a right to demand that men who are predators like you, who seek out small children like you, who commit offences like this – repeated occasions against small children – should also be punished to represent the public’s abhorrence at this sort of behaviour.”

In response to the case, a spokesperson for Kirklees Active Leisure reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to safeguarding children. They stated, “We take our customers’ safety very seriously and have strong safeguarding procedures in place. We would like to stress that incidents of this nature are extremely rare. Child protection is our first priority, and we have policies to keep children as safe as possible within the public environment.”