BRADFORD AND HALIFAX PAEDOPHILE RING SENTENCED TO 168 YEARS IN JAIL FOR SYSTEMATIC GROOMING AND ABUSE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the communities of Bradford and Halifax, a large-scale child sexual exploitation network has been dismantled, resulting in the imprisonment of fifteen men who were found guilty of systematically grooming, abusing, and exploiting schoolgirls over a period spanning from 2009 to 2011. The court proceedings, held at Leeds Crown Court, revealed the extent of the abuse and the bravery of the victims who came forward to testify against their abusers, despite the trauma they endured.

Hedar Ali, aged 36 and residing in Bradford, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted on two counts of rape and two counts of trafficking for sexual exploitation. His crimes were part of a broader pattern of abuse carried out by the gang, which targeted vulnerable young girls in both Bradford and Halifax. The investigation uncovered that the gang’s activities involved not only grooming but also acts of sexual violence, with one victim being preyed upon by as many as 100 men during her ordeal.

Among the convicted was Haider Ali, 41, from Halifax, who received a 20-year sentence after being found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a child and causing a person to participate in sexual acts. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) detailed that the gang’s abuse extended over several years, with victims being subjected to assaults in various locations, including cars and private residences. The CPS emphasized that the abuse was part of a complex and lengthy operation, with police conducting nearly 60 hours of interviews with two victims, processing thousands of statements, exhibits, and items of evidence.

Khalid Zaman, 38, from Bradford, was sentenced to 17 and a half years after being convicted of two counts of rape and supplying Class B drugs. Zaman denied all charges but was found guilty after evidence was presented. The CPS described how one victim was groomed and exploited systematically by older men, who used alcohol and drugs to manipulate her. The case also involved other gang members, including Mohammed Ramzan, 35, of Bradford, who was jailed for 15 years after being convicted of rape.

The initial reports of abuse emerged in 2012 when a 15-year-old girl, living in Halifax at the time, disclosed her experiences to police. Her background was marked by familial chaos, addiction, and neglect, which contributed to her vulnerability. Over time, her lifestyle deteriorated, and she became involved with older youths and men who exploited her. She was drinking vodka from the age of 12, using cannabis, Ecstasy, cocaine, and other illicit substances, often in the company of her abusers. Her situation was further complicated by her frequent absences from school, her association with drug-using peers, and her repeated disappearances.

Her case was considered the largest and longest-running investigation into child sexual exploitation in Calderdale. Police conducted extensive interviews, and social services intervened multiple times, attempting to protect her from her exploiters. Despite these efforts, she continued to go missing, often returning intoxicated or injured. It was only after she was moved to foster care at age 15, away from her abusers, that she began to understand the extent of her exploitation. She later provided detailed accounts of her experiences, including being taken to various hotels and locations in Bradford, Halifax, Leeds, London, and Manchester, where she was subjected to repeated sexual assaults by multiple men.

Her testimony revealed that she was often given drugs and alcohol to facilitate her abuse, and she was sometimes filmed during acts of sexual violence. Many of her abusers were identified only by nicknames or through CCTV footage and DNA evidence. The court heard that her exploitation was relentless, with her being subjected to over 100 men between the ages of 13 and 15, often more than once a day. The judge described her as a deeply damaged child, emphasizing the severe psychological and physical trauma she endured. She contracted gonorrhea, suffers from flashbacks, and has been diagnosed with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder.

Judge Marson, presiding over the case, condemned the offenders for their callousness and lack of remorse. He highlighted that the victims had shown immense courage in reporting their abuse and providing evidence. The judge also noted that the abuse was characterized by a complete absence of love, care, or concern, with the victims being used solely for sexual gratification. The court sentenced the most culpable offenders, including Heder Ali, to lengthy terms, reflecting the gravity of their crimes. Ali, who previously had a conviction for sexual assault, was sentenced to 25 years after being convicted of raping the victim at the Park Hotel in Bradford in 2011, knowing she was incapacitated by drugs and alcohol.

Other notable sentences included Halifax resident Haider Ali, who was jailed for 20 years for his role in the abuse, and Bradford’s Mohammed Ramzan, sentenced to 15 years for oral rape. The court also sentenced Khalid Zaman to 17 and a half years for multiple charges, including rape and drug supply. Several other gang members received sentences ranging from six to ten years, with some admitting to supplying drugs or engaging in sexual activity with minors.

The investigation into this case was described as one of the most extensive in Calderdale’s history, involving nearly 60 hours of interviews, thousands of statements, and the analysis of CCTV footage and DNA evidence. The police and social services worked tirelessly to gather evidence and protect the victims, who demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma. The court’s verdict underscores the seriousness of child exploitation crimes and sends a clear message that such conduct will be met with severe punishment. The community and authorities hope that these convictions will serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar criminal activities, and that the victims can begin the long process of healing from their profound abuse.