HUDDERSFIELD GROOMERS JAILED FOR CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Two men, Mohammed Akram and Usman Khalid, have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in the sexual abuse and rape of a child in Huddersfield. Akram, aged 33, and Khalid, aged 31, were part of a grooming gang that exploited a vulnerable girl, known as Girl N, between 2004 and 2011. Akram's prison sentence was increased from 17 years to 22 years, while Khalid was sentenced to five years. Their convictions mark the culmination of Operation Tendersea, an ongoing investigation into child sexual exploitation by West Yorkshire Police. Girl N was groomed starting at age 11 and was passed around gang members, who went as far as abducting her from a care home. Akram sexually abused her when she was about 12, and he repeatedly raped her in subsequent years. Khalid also sexually assaulted her when she was 12. Akram, also known as Kid, was convicted of multiple charges including rape of a child under 13, abduction, trafficking for sexual exploitation, and sexual assault. Khalid was convicted of sexual assault. The judge described the case as 'a tragic tale of human misery and suffering,' acknowledging that the victim had been betrayed by professionals unable to protect her. The court was told that Akram and Khalid exploited her cynically, giving her alcohol and drugs, and abusing her sexually. Akram’s prior involvement in trafficking and raping other girls was also highlighted, and he was sentenced to serve his latest sentence concurrently with his earlier 17-year sentence. Both offenders will be subject to life-long sexual offender notification requirements and sexual harm prevention orders. Operation Tendersea has led to 21 convictions for a total of 267 years in jail. The police officers involved in securing these convictions received praise for their work, and the victim was commended for her bravery. Girl N, who suffered prolonged abuse, expressed her trauma and distrust in authorities but identified herself as a survivor. She detailed her experiences of grooming, abuse, and her feelings of being labeled negatively by social services. She expressed that reliving her ordeal has been extremely difficult, and she feels disgusted that adults could commit such inhumane acts against such a vulnerable child. Additional information revealed that she was groomed by a takeaway worker, Zahid Hassan, known as Little Manny, who was also convicted and now serves an 18-year sentence. Hassan previously abused Girl N along with Akram and Khalid, and she claims up to 17 other men participated in her abuse. Despite being taken into care, her abuse continued, and she was abducted from a children's home multiple times. The court acknowledged that Girl N's life has been profoundly impacted by the case. Her social worker documented her as a 'child prostitute,' and she was labeled as a 'difficult child,' leading to deep distrust of authorities. Her testimony highlighted the trauma and lasting effects of her abuse, and she bravely returned to court for sentencing, declaring herself 'a survivor and not a victim.'