TARIQ SYED'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN BRADFORD: VICTIMIZED GIRL AND FAMILY FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community of Bradford, a 64-year-old man named Tariq Syed has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for heinous crimes committed against a young girl.The incident took place in September 2014, when Syed lured a girl barely into her teenage years to an isolated wooded area, where he subjected her to sexual assault.
The court heard how Syed, who is a father of five and resides on Pemberton Drive in Little Horton, Bradford, used threats and intimidation to silence his young victim.
Syed’s actions did not stop at the assault itself.
He also engaged in grooming behavior, befriending the girl’s family by giving her phones, clothes, and a computer tablet, ostensibly to help them.
His motives appeared manipulative, as he sought to establish trust with the family under the guise of kindness.
However, suspicion grew within the family when the girl’s mother became aware of Syed’s frequent contact and the gifts he provided.
Concerned, the mother confronted her daughter, revealing her awareness that Syed had been collecting the girl from school.
The situation escalated when the girl disclosed to her mother that Syed had forced her into sexual acts.
The girl’s screams alerted her mother, who then contacted the police.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Syed had threatened the girl, telling her that if she did not comply, he would kill her and bury her in the woods.
His intimidation tactics extended to her mother, whom he threatened and attempted to bribe with a sum of £15,000 to persuade the family to return to their native Romania, effectively trying to cover up the crime.
Forensic evidence played a crucial role in the case.
Semen found on the inside of the girl’s school trousers was consistent with sexual activity, as confirmed by Dr.
Mark Dale’s forensic analysis.
Syed initially denied the allegations, claiming that the semen was present before he gave the trousers to the girl and accused the girl’s mother of fabricating the story for financial gain.
He also claimed to have taken the girl for an abortion at a clinic in Leeds on the day of the assault, further attempting to deny responsibility.
Syed’s arrest followed a thorough investigation by West Yorkshire Police.
The police quickly identified him as a suspect after the girl’s disclosure and the forensic evidence.
He was initially bailed but was re-arrested the following month after the victim’s family reported that he had offered them money to leave the country.
Despite bail conditions prohibiting him from approaching the family, Syed was eventually charged with multiple offenses.
The trial was scheduled to commence in August of the previous year, but the victim and her family unexpectedly returned to Romania, complicating proceedings.
To ensure justice was served, detectives Detective Constable Charlotte Grose and Detective Sergeant Amanda Middleton traveled to Romania to facilitate the victim and her mother giving evidence via video link.
The case was prosecuted at Bradford Crown Court, where a jury took less than two hours to find Syed guilty of the charges.
He was convicted of rape and perverting the course of justice but was cleared of a charge related to causing the girl’s mother actual bodily harm during an attack at a Bradford takeaway where she worked.
Judge David Hatton QC sentenced Syed to 13 years in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender for life.
In his sentencing remarks, the judge emphasized the gravity of Syed’s actions, stating, “You took a girl barely into her thirteenth year to an isolated location.
You defiled her.
You had targeted her for that specific purpose.
This offence was a consequence of grooming.
You issued threats of what would become of her unless she kept her silence.
You terrified her.” West Yorkshire Police highlighted the case as a significant achievement, noting that the investigation involved international cooperation, including efforts to bring Syed to justice in Romania.
A police spokesman praised the dedication of officers who flew out to Romania to support the victim and her family, ensuring their safety and participation in the legal process.
Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson also commended the bravery of the victim and her family for coming forward.
He emphasized that tackling child sexual abuse remains a top priority for law enforcement and urged others who may have been victims to report crimes without fear.
The NSPCC, commenting on the case, expressed their concern over the lasting impact on the victim and her family, condemning Syed’s calculated grooming and lack of remorse, which they described as deeply shocking and disturbing.
