Grooming gang victims confront attackers who raped them when they were 14 – as nine men jailed for more than 132 years
The nine men, mostly from Bradford, were today jailed for more than 132 years
VICTIMS of a grooming gang today confronted their attackers who raped them when they were 14 - as the nine men were jailed for more than 132 years.
The men were given sentences of up to 20 years by a judge who heard how two girls suffered an “appalling catalogue of emotional and sexual abuse which has deprived them of their childhood”.
The sexual exploitation of the girls, which began when they were placed in a Bradford children's home, followed what prosecutors described as "a pattern which is all too familiar in cases of this kind".
One of the victims said: “I have the most irrational thoughts because of anxiety.
"I have fear going to the shops, and very rarely go to restaurants or out on an evening with friends.
"I was manipulated, used, nothing but a toy to play with. I understand this because new relationships are so much different.
"I have had years of counselling to understand it wasn't love it was grooming.”
EXPLOITATION
The court heard the abuse began when Basharat Khaliq, 38, exploited the girls - then aged 14 - in 2008 after they had been placed in a children's home run by Bradford Metropolitan District Council.
Khaliq, who was jailed at Bradford Crown Court for 20 years on Wednesday, went on to exploit one of the victims for a further three years.
She added: “When Basharat was arrested I could not leave the house for three months.
"I had to leave my job because of the dread of him or someone he knew walking through the door.
"It pains me to see my dad in panic at the thought of Basharat turning up at our house."
I have fear going to the shops, and very rarely go to restaurants or out on an evening with friends
Grooming victim
The second victim bravely read her statement in court and revealed she was diagnosed with depression, PTSD and anxiety when she was 15.
She said: “I struggle to sleep and when I do I have nightmares. I have previous issues with self-harm and multiple suicide attempts.
"I struggle to leave the house due to anxiety which prevents me from living a full life, and have spent my adult life on medication.
"My scars greatly affect my confidence and self-worth and are a constant reminder of what I have been through.
"I showed signs of a promising future and was predicted A*s and wanted to be a lawyer. Because of the abuse I dropped out of school and was in trouble with police.
"The abuse resulted in the forced adoption of my eldest daughter. There was never an issue with my parenting ability it was just the lifestyle around the abuse, meaning I could not form a relationship with my daughter.
TARGETED
"Rebuilding my life has been hard to do while my abusers walk the streets, but hopefully getting justice is the first step in my path of doing this."
The abuse came to light when one of the victims was interviewed by police in connection with another investigation into child sexual exploitation.
Paula Craven from the CPS said: "These two girls were deliberately targeted because of their vulnerability.
"These victims suffered an appalling catalogue of degrading emotional and sexual abuse which has deprived them of their childhood."
Basharat Khaliq, of Bradford, was found guilty of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, police said. He was jailed for 20 years.
Saeed Akhtar, 55, of Bradford, was found guilty of one charge of rape and two charges of causing or inciting child prostitution. He was jailed for 20 years.
Naveed Akhtar, 43, of Bradford, was found guilty of two counts of rape. He was jailed for 17 years.
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Parvaze Ahmed, 36, of Bradford, was found guilty of three charges of rape. He was jailed for 17 years.
Kieran Harris, 28, of Dewsbury, was found guilty of two counts of rape . He was jailed for 17 years.
Mohammed Usman, 31, of Bradford, was found guilty of two counts of rape. He was jailed for 17 years.
Izar Hussain, 32, of Bradford, was found guilty of rape. He was jailed for 16 years.
Fahim Iqbal, 28, of Dewsbury, was found guilty of aiding and abetting one of Harris's rapes. He was jailed for seven years.
Zeeshan Ali, 32, of Bradford, was found guilty of sexual assault. He was jailed for 18 months.
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