25 men jailed for 346 years for 'abhorrent' sex offences as big ring busted

Dozens of predators who sexually abused young girls in Kirklees have been jailed for a combined 346 years following a major police investigation.

Sentencing took place at Leeds Crown Court yesterday ( April 26 ) for the latest men convicted as part of Operation Tourway, a multi-year investigation into the non-recent sexual exploitation of young girls in North Kirklees.

These Kirklees men have been sentenced on multiple counts of sex offences. (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

Asif Ali, 53, from Batley; Mohammed Tausif Hanif, 39, from Dewsbury; Ali Shah, 38, from Dewsbury; Moshin Nadat, 38, from Heckmondwike; Sarfraz Miraf, 38, from Dewsbury; Mohammed Nazam Nasser, 38; from Batley and Amir Ali Hussain, 45; from Batley were all sentenced for multiple offences.  

An eighth man was also made subject of a hospital order following a finding of the facts at court.  
 
Their conviction means 25 men have so far been sentenced for their roles in the rape, sexual abuse and trafficking of eight then young girls in North Kirklees between 1999 and 2012.   
  
One of the men convicted received a sentence in excess of 30 years during the trials, most of which were protected by reporting restrictions to ensure those involved could be tried fairly.   
  
Now, with the lifting of restrictions, 24 men brought to court so far can be named and full details of their sentences disclosed   
  
They are:    
  
Khurum Raziq, 42, from Heckmondwike, sentenced to 22 years after being found guilty of eight offences of rape.

Nasar Hussain, 46, from Dewsbury, sentenced to 18 years after being found guilty of three rape offences.

Zafar Qayum, 44, from Dewsbury, sentenced to 30 years for six counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault and three counts of aiding and abetting rape.   
  
Ansar  Qayum, 47, from Dewsbury, was sentenced to 20 years for four counts of rape and one offence of attempted indecent assault.     
  
Mohammed Jabbar Qayum, 43, from Dewsbury, was sentenced to 13 years for two offences of rape committed against one victim.   
  
Mohammed Imran Zada, 45, from Batley, sentenced to 15 years for four offences of rape and an offence of sexual activity with a child  - 15 years    
  
Michael Birkenshaw, 37, from Wakefield, was sentenced to eight years for an offence of rape.    
  
Amran Mehrban, 40, from Batley, sentenced to 13 years for two offences of rape and an offence of assault by penetration.
  
Sarkaut Yasen, 38, from Dewsbury, sentenced to 15 years for an offence of trafficking and three offences of aiding and abetting rape.   
  
Mohammed Saleem Nasir, 48, from Dewsbury, sentenced to 19 years for three offences of rape and an offence of aiding and abetting rape.      
  
Irfan Khan, 37, from Batley, sentenced to 12 years and five years extended licence for three offences of rape and an offence of  making threats to kill     
  
Omar Farooq Hussain, 39, from Batley, was sentenced to 18 years for four offences of rape.   
  
Sarfraz Hussain Riaz, 40, from Dewsbury was sentenced to 15 years for two offences of rape and an offence of attempted rape.   
  
Zafar Iqbal, 38, from Batley, was sentenced to 17 years for an offence of indecency with child, trafficking and three offences of rape.   
 
Nasar Iqbal, 38, from Batley, was sentenced to 10 years for an offence of trafficking and an offence of rape.   
  
Mohammed Chothia, 47, from Batley was sentenced to 17 years for four offences of rape and an offence of trafficking.
  
Bilal Patel, 42, from Leicester was sentenced to 13 years for an offence of trafficking and an offence of rape.   
 
Asif Ali, 53, from Batley was sentenced to 24 years for 14 counts of rape, two offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and offences of trafficking for sexual exploitation, intentionally encouraging or assisting an offender and aiding, abetting or procuring rape.   
  
Mohammed Tauseef Hanif, 39, from Dewsbury, was jailed for nine and a half years for an offence of rape.   
  
Ali Shah, 38, from Dewsbury, was sentenced to 10 years for one offence of rape.   
Moshin Nadat, 38, from Heckmondwike was sentenced to seven and a half years for one offence of rape.    
  
Safraz Miraf, 49, from Dewsbury was sentenced to four and a half years for an offence of attempted rape   
  
Mohammed Nazam Nasser, 38, from Batley was sentenced to seven and a half years for an offence of rape   
  
Amir Ali Hussain, 45, from Batley was sentenced to eight years for an offence of rape.   
  
Dedicated safeguarding detectives began investigating non recent reports concerning some of the men from 2015 with more suspects being uncovered as enquiries progressed.    
  
Arrests were conducted from November 2018 across the West Yorkshire area.    
All of the suspects were charged in December 2020 with court proceedings starting on December 11.
  
The men above have been sentenced as part of five trials heard at Leeds Crown Court between 2022 and 2024   
  
DCI Oliver Coates, of Kirklees Police, said: “The conviction and sentencing of these latest eight men represents a significant milestone for victims in this case.  
 “Their bravery in coming forwards and identifying their abusers has allowed us to take action against men whose offending and behaviour can only be described as abhorrent in the extreme.

“Now that reporting restrictions have been lifted we can, for the first time, disclose full details of all those sentenced so far in what has been a long trial process."    
 
He added: “Throughout the last two years juries have heard details of absolutely shocking offending committed against victims in these cases.

“Some of these men received in excess of 20 years each for the multiple offences they committed and the unbelievably callous and degrading way in which they treated these then young girls.  
  
“Men such Asif Ali, who alone was found guilty of 14 rape offences, committed appalling sexual abuse on a scale which can barely be believed, and saw their young victims as defenceless commodities to be abused and traded at whim.

“Far from being powerless however, those young women have instead fought back as adults and forced them to account for their crimes.

“They displayed real courage and determination in giving evidence through what have been lengthy trials and supporting our investigations.

“I hope they can find some closure and satisfaction in knowing they have enabled police and partners to mount a huge and highly difficult investigation which has taken sexual predators off our streets for years to come.”