YUSUF KAYAT SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN DEWSBURY AND MIRFIELD

A man from Dewsbury, Yusuf Kayat, aged 54, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence of 20 years after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses committed against a young girl over three decades ago. The sentencing took place at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday, February 5th, following a detailed trial that began in late January.

Kayat was found guilty of a total of 17 separate charges, which included unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13, as well as indecent assault on a girl under 14. The court also convicted him of aiding and abetting indecent assault on a girl under 16. These offenses were committed in the Dewsbury and Mirfield areas between 1989 and 1992, a period during which the victim was just 10 years old.

The court heard that the abuse took place in various locations, including cars and abandoned buildings, highlighting the predatory nature of Kayat’s actions. The investigation into his offending was initiated in 2021 after the victim was identified and subsequently interviewed by authorities. The case was built on her courageous testimony and the evidence collected by law enforcement.

DCI Oliver Coates of Kirklees District Police expressed his support for the victim and the justice served. He stated, “We welcome the sentencing of Yusuf Kayat for multiple serious sexual offences against a victim who was only 10 years old when he began to abuse her. Kayat groomed and then committed some extremely serious sexual offences against the victim for a number of years.”

He further praised the victim’s bravery, saying, “I want to praise her courage for supporting the police investigation into this man’s appalling offences against her, and then working with us and our partners in the CPS to bring him before a jury. Thanks to her bravery, this man has now been made to pay for what he did to her and will be in prison for a number of years to come.”

DCI Coates also emphasized that justice can be achieved regardless of how much time has passed since the crimes were committed. He urged other victims of sexual abuse in Kirklees who have not yet come forward to do so, assuring them that specially trained officers are available to listen, investigate, and support them through the process.

Julia McSorley, a Specialist Prosecutor with the CPS’s Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, commented on the case, stating, “Yusuf Kayat used a young vulnerable child for his own sexual gratification and passed her around to others to do the same. Not only has he burdened the victim with the traumatic and lasting effects of his offending but by denying what he did to her, he has also forced the victim to relive the awful events she experienced during the trial.”

She praised the efforts of the prosecution team and law enforcement, noting, “The prosecution team, in collaboration with West Yorkshire Police, was able to build a strong case to present to the jury, who found Kayat guilty. My thoughts are with the victim of these appalling crimes. The Crown Prosecution Service would like to thank her for the incredible courage she showed in giving evidence, which was instrumental in bringing the offender to justice.”

McSorley reaffirmed the CPS’s commitment to pursuing justice for victims of child sexual abuse, regardless of the time elapsed since the offenses. She concluded by urging any victims who have not yet reported their abuse to contact the police, emphasizing that support and investigation are available to help them seek justice.