Huddersfield grooming gang: Man jailed for rape of teenager

A MAN was on Monday (4) jailed for 10 years for raping a teenage girl who was groomed by a number of men in Huddersfield.

Banaris Hussain, 36, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court and he was branded "dreadful and depraved" and as he was being taken to the cells, he told the judge: "It's a miscarriage of justice, I want you to know that."

A total of 27 men have been convicted following investigation into child sexual exploitation in Huddersfield, with prison sentences exceeding 300 years.

On Friday, five defendents were jailed for a total of 45 years for grooming and abusing girls in the town. Sentencing them, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said their abuse was "vile and wicked" and "defies understanding."

The judge told Hussain: “I addressed how the girls had been groomed by a number of Asian men in order for sexual abuse to be committed against them.

“I spoke of the traumatic effect the abuse had on them. You have shown not a shred of remorse for what you did.

“The offence of rape was committed at a time when [the victim] was 14 or 15.

“You raped her when a number of others were present and also abusing her.”

On Friday, Umar Zaman, 31, and Samuel Fikru, 32, also of William Street, were each jailed for eight years after they were convicted of two counts of rape. Zaman is believed to have fled to Pakistan.

A 32-year old man was jailed for 14 years for five counts of rape and another 32-year-old man was jailed for eight years for one count of rape. A 38-year-old man was jailed for seven years for attempted rape.

Their names cannot be reported for legal reasons.

Welcoming the sentencing, detective chief inspector Richard McNamara said the offences can only be described as "depraved."

He said: "These individuals sexually abused three vulnerable young girls and the sentences reflect the dreadful nature of what they have done.

"We hope that seeing these men put behind bars, following the guilty verdicts last month at Leeds Crown Court, will be a source of some comfort for these brave and courageous victims as they continue to come to terms with their lived experiences."