MOHAMMED ANWAR FROM HUDDERSFIELD JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF GIRL OVER 40 YEARS AGO
In a case that has spanned decades, Mohammed Anwar, a 66-year-old man from Huddersfield, was convicted of sexually abusing a young girl more than 40 years ago.The conviction was reached after a lengthy jury deliberation that lasted over nine hours, culminating in a verdict at Leeds Crown Court in May.
Anwar was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault, but the jury acquitted him on one other allegation and failed to reach a consensus on six additional charges, which will now be left on file without further proceedings.
The trial revealed disturbing details of the abuse, which reportedly began as an opportunistic act.
The judge, Mushtaq Khokhar, noted during the sentencing hearing at Bradford Crown Court that the abuse involved threats made by Anwar to silence the victim, who cannot be publicly identified.
The victim, now an adult, provided a heartfelt victim impact statement describing her feelings of fear and helplessness during the assaults.
She recounted how she was unable to stop Anwar’s actions and how the experience has had a lasting, devastating effect on her life.
Throughout the proceedings, Anwar’s defense team, led by barrister Adam Birkby, highlighted the positive aspects of his character, emphasizing his role as a devoted family man who has built a good life since the offences.
References from friends and family members painted a picture of a man held in high regard within his community.
Birkby argued that a custodial sentence would be particularly harsh given Anwar’s current health condition and the impact on his family, who are also innocent victims of these allegations.
Despite these character references, Judge Khokhar emphasized that the nature of the offences warranted a custodial sentence.
He described the initial abuse as an opportunistic act that was compounded by threats to silence the victim.
The judge stated, “It’s clear from what has been put in writing and what she told the court during the course of these proceedings that the impact of your offending against her has been catastrophic.” As a result of his conviction, Anwar will be required to register as a sex offender for life, reflecting the severity of his crimes.
The court’s decision underscores the importance of protecting victims and ensuring that offenders face appropriate consequences.
Earlier in May, Anwar faced a separate hearing where he was warned of the likelihood of imprisonment.
The court previously heard that he had sexually abused the girl multiple times in front of other children, including during incidents in Huddersfield.
Although he was charged with 12 counts of indecent assault, jurors failed to reach verdicts on six of those charges and found him not guilty on one.
The court decided not to retry the remaining counts, citing his age and the number of guilty verdicts already obtained.
During the sentencing process, Anwar was temporarily released on bail under strict conditions, including a curfew from 6:30 pm to 8 am, surrendering his passport, and residing at his home address.
The courtroom was visibly emotional, with a woman in the gallery leaving in tears and hugging Anwar after the verdicts.
The victim and her daughter, also present, shared a moment of relief and support after the proceedings, highlighting the personal toll of the case on those involved.
