Five men who sexually exploited vulnerable young girls in Huddersfield have been jailed for a combined total of 45 years, following the latest convictions under West Yorkshire Police’s long‑running Operation Tendersea. Their sentencing brings the overall total to 312 years of imprisonment handed down across five major trials linked to the investigation.
Judge Geoffrey Marson QC, speaking at Leeds Crown Court, condemned the men’s actions as “vile and wicked”, saying the treatment of the girls “defies understanding”. He noted that none of the defendants had shown any remorse.
One 32‑year‑old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received a 14‑year sentence for raping a 12‑year‑old girl, taking her virginity and leaving her bleeding in a park. He also carried out what the judge described as a “campaign of rape” against another teenage girl, repeatedly abusing her in a Huddersfield park and using sleeping pills to overpower her.
The court heard how the victims—many of them extremely vulnerable—were groomed, given drugs and alcohol, and passed between groups of men who pretended to show affection while exploiting them for sexual gratification. Judge Marson said the girls were manipulated into believing they were cared for, when in reality they were being targeted by predatory offenders.
He described one case in which a terrified 12‑year‑old was relentlessly pursued. Men repeatedly called her carers demanding access to her, even after she was moved to another city for her safety. She feared she would be killed if her phone details were handed to police.
Umar Zaman, 31, and Samuel Fikru, 32, both of William Street, Huddersfield, were each sentenced to eight years after being convicted of two counts of rape. Zaman has absconded and is believed to be in Pakistan.
Another 32‑year‑old man was jailed for eight years for a single count of rape, and a 38‑year‑old man received seven years for attempted rape. Their identities are also protected for legal reasons.
A sixth defendant, Banaris Hussain, 36, also of William Street, was convicted of one count of rape and is due to be sentenced on Monday.
Operation Tendersea has now resulted in 27 men being convicted for offences relating to the grooming and sexual abuse of children in Huddersfield, marking one of the region’s most extensive investigations into child sexual exploitation.
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