RAJ SINGH BARSRAN AND HUDDERSFIELD GROOMING SCANDAL: MASSIVE CHILD ABUSE CONVICTIONS IN WEST YORKSHIRE

A disturbing and extensive grooming operation involving twenty men has come to light, revealing a campaign of exploitation, trafficking, drugging, and sexual assault targeting vulnerable young girls across West Yorkshire. The group’s activities, which spanned several years, have shocked the community and prompted a significant legal crackdown.

At the center of this criminal network was Raj Singh Barsran, a 34-year-old man from Huddersfield, who was convicted and sentenced to 17 years in prison. His crimes, along with those of his accomplices, exposed a pattern of predatory behavior aimed at some of the most vulnerable members of society. Barsran’s involvement in the abuse was part of a broader, organized effort that included trafficking girls across the region and filming their assaults on his mobile device.

The case, which is believed to be the largest grooming prosecution in Britain’s history, saw the conviction of 20 men, including Barsran, after a series of three trials. The proceedings revealed that most of the accused, including Barsran, were from Huddersfield, and that their victims were often as young as 11 years old. The court heard harrowing details of how these girls were lured with promises of friendship, flattery, and gifts, only to be subsequently drugged, sexually assaulted, and manipulated into silence.

One particularly disturbing account involved an 11 or 12-year-old girl who was abducted from a care home, supplied with ecstasy, and forced to perform sexual acts. The victims described being given alcohol and drugs at house parties, then raped in various locations such as car parks, hotels, takeaways, snooker halls, on the moors, and near reservoirs across West Yorkshire. The abuse was described as relentless and calculated, with the perpetrators creating a false sense of trust to facilitate their predatory acts.

The gang members, who used nicknames like “Dracula,” “Beastie,” and “Chiller,” engaged in inhumane treatment of the girls. The court heard that Barsran, a married father of two, committed numerous rapes, incited child prostitution, and trafficked girls across the region. His heinous acts included sexually abusing a girl with a drinks bottle during a game of truth or dare and raping a 15-year-old girl while she was intoxicated, with others present. These acts were described as degrading and wicked by Judge Geoffrey Marson QC, who presided over the case.

The victims, many of whom had troubled home lives, were deliberately targeted for their vulnerabilities. Some had learning disabilities, and others had attempted suicide or undergone abortions. One girl was thrown out of a moving car outside her home, suffering bruises and under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The perpetrators exploited their victims’ trust and feelings of being special, often showering them with attention, rides in cars, and presents, which masked their true intentions.

Judge Marson emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating that the case was at the top of the scale of sexual abuse cases he had encountered. He noted that the victims and their families remain profoundly affected, with many girls unlikely to recover from the trauma inflicted upon them. The judge condemned the offenders for their lack of remorse and highlighted that the crimes were meticulously planned, targeting girls because of their extreme vulnerability.

Legal restrictions that had been in place since November 2017 were partially lifted on the day of sentencing, allowing the media to report some details of the trials. The case also drew attention due to a controversial Facebook video filmed by anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson outside Leeds Crown Court, which nearly caused the collapse of one of the trials. Robinson was later jailed for contempt of court, though his conviction was subsequently quashed, and he is scheduled for a retrial at the Old Bailey.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Mottershaw of West Yorkshire Police praised the bravery of the victims and urged others who have suffered similar exploitation to come forward. He described the offenders as “depraved individuals” responsible for inflicting unthinkable sexual and physical abuse on children.

The list of convicted men includes Irfan Ahmed (8 years), Zahid Hassan (18 years), Mohammed Kammer (16 years), Mohammed Rizwan Aslam (15 years), Abdul Rehman (16 years), Nahman Mohammed (15 years), Mansoor Akhtar (8 years), Wiqas Mahmud (15 years), Nasarat Hussain (17 years), Sajid Hussain (17 years), Mohammed Irfraz (6 years), Faisal Nadeem (12 years), and several others, with sentences ranging from five to eighteen years. The sentences for some individuals, including Niaz Ahmed, Mohammed Imran Ibrar, Asif Bashir, and Mohammed Akram, are to be determined in upcoming hearings scheduled for November 1.

This case underscores the devastating impact of child sexual exploitation and trafficking in West Yorkshire, and the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of this widespread abuse. Authorities remain committed to pursuing justice and protecting vulnerable children from similar predatory networks in the future.