YORKSHIRE BROTHERS ZAFAR, ANSAR, AND MOHAMMED QAYUM SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEENAGE GIRLS

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community in Yorkshire, three brothers from Dewsbury, all members of the Qayum family, have been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against vulnerable teenage girls. The trial, held at Leeds Crown Court, revealed a disturbing pattern of grooming, exploitation, and abuse spanning several years, with the brothers now facing lengthy prison terms for their actions.

Zafar Qayum, aged 42, along with his brothers Ansar, aged 45, and Mohammed Jabbar, aged 41, were found guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault, including rape, aiding and abetting rape, and indecent assault. The court heard that Zafar was convicted of six counts of rape, three counts of aiding and abetting rape, and five counts of indecent assault, all involving three different victims. Ansar was found guilty of four counts of rape and attempted indecent assault against two victims, while Mohammed was convicted of two counts of rape involving a single victim. The offenses took place between 1999 and 2004, during which time the victims, all girls aged between 13 and 15, were described as particularly vulnerable and in need of protection.

Police investigations into these crimes were initiated in 2017 after one of the victims came forward to report her ordeal. It was revealed that her decision to speak out was influenced by her watching a documentary, which prompted her to realize that her experiences could still be legally addressed. During the trial, jurors faced difficulties reaching verdicts on two counts—one involving Zafar and another involving Ansar—leading the court to instruct those counts to lie on file.

The court emphasized the disturbing nature of the offenses, highlighting that the brothers targeted girls who were sometimes missing from home, exploiting their vulnerability for their own gratification. Prosecutor Rupert John Doswell pointed out that Zafar Qayum played a central role in orchestrating the abuse, often encouraging his younger brother Mohammed to carry out acts of sexual violence. Mr. Doswell described Zafar as the “instigator and facilitator,” noting that he was 20 years old at the time of some of the offenses, which lasted for several years. Mohammed was between 23 and 25 during the abuse, and he is now 41.

As the sentencing hearing proceeded, emotional victim impact statements from the three women, now adults, were read aloud. Each detailed the profound and lasting effects of the abuse on their lives. One woman recounted that she was a young teenager when the abuse began and has struggled with anxiety ever since. She described feeling emotionally numb, partly due to medication for her mental health, which she attributed to her traumatic experiences. She expressed ongoing fears that the Qayum brothers might come after her, revealing that even passing cars slowly by her home trigger her anxiety, as she perceives them as threats.

Another victim shared her story of exploitation, explaining that Zafar Qayum made her feel special and filled a void in her life. She described how the abuse led her to become less tolerant of others, resulting in her expulsion from school and hiding her suffering from her father for three months. Her fear of physical and mental harm confined her to her home, and she recounted that she eventually entered into an abusive relationship at age 17 after the abuse ceased. She expressed relief that, through giving evidence at trial, she finally felt her voice was heard, and she hopes to move forward with her life.

The third woman described her childhood as “great and happy” until the age of 13, after which her teenage years were marred by trauma that has continued to affect her adult life. She admitted to feeling “not normal” and having relationships with the wrong people, believing that was the only way she knew how to relate. She revealed that she still suffers from nightmares and panic attacks, fearing that the perpetrators might find her again. She emphasized that her son would never behave like the Qayum brothers and expressed her desire to live a life of happiness despite the scars left by her abuse.

During mitigation, defense attorneys highlighted the age disparity between the brothers and their victims, suggesting that the offenders were relatively close in age to the girls at the time of the offenses. Katherine Pierpoint, representing Zafar Qayum, noted that he was 19 or 20 when the crimes occurred and that he has since become a law-abiding, hardworking family man with a wife and four young children. She argued that he had not offended since then and that his current life was stable.

Similarly, Fiona McNeil, defending Ansar Qayum, pointed out that he had previously pleaded guilty to a kidnapping involving a 17-year-old boy, which resulted in a sentence of 10 years and nine months. She emphasized that the age gap in this case was not as significant as in other similar cases.

For Mohammed Qayum, solicitor Kitty Colley described him as different from his brothers, portraying him as relatively naive and not involved in the same level of offending. She stated that the evidence suggested he was exposed to, but not involved in, the criminal acts committed by his siblings. She explained that Zafar’s aiding and abetting of rape involved encouraging Mohammed to have sex with one of the girls, but that Mohammed initially pretended and did not go through with the act. Colley stressed that Mohammed was a family man and helped care for their parents.

In sentencing, Judge Marson condemned the brothers for their cowardly actions, which involved grooming and exploiting vulnerable girls with alcohol, drugs, and false compliments. He highlighted that one victim became pregnant at 14 and had an abortion, with the father remaining unknown. The judge criticized the brothers for their cowardice and for causing lifelong trauma to their victims, stating that their lives would be forever affected by their actions.

Addressing Zafar Qayum directly, the judge described how he manipulated and controlled one victim, who believed she was in a genuine loving relationship with him. The judge detailed how Zafar physically and sexually abused her over several years, even destroying her flat. He condemned Zafar for aiding and abetting his brothers’ crimes, noting that he took advantage of girls under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The judge also referenced a disturbing comment made by one victim, who said Zafar would joke about their shared goal to “f*** all of the white girls and f*** the Government,” which the victim initially saw as a joke but now recognized as part of the broader pattern of abuse.

Judge Marson sentenced Zafar Qayum to 30 years in prison, Ansar Qayum to 20 years, which will be added to his existing sentence, and Mohammed Jabbar Qayum to 13 years. The judge emphasized that the sentences reflected the gravity of their crimes and the profound impact on the victims.

Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Ian Thornes of Kirklees Police expressed his condemnation of the brothers’ actions. He praised the courage of the victims who came forward and emphasized that the police would continue to investigate and support victims of such heinous crimes. Thornes reaffirmed the police’s commitment to thorough and sensitive investigations, encouraging others who have suffered similar abuse to come forward and seek justice.