A grooming gang victim has spoken of how 'pieces of her soul' were stolen from her as a child after she was raped and abused by four men. The woman, now in her 40s, described her harrowing trauma as 'never ending' after being subjected to systematic sexual abuse between 1994 and 1997 in West Yorkshire.
Abusers Sentenced
Jagtar Sahota, 65, a takeaway boss from Leeds, was sentenced last month to 21 years in prison for 11 counts of rape and 11 counts of indecent assault. His three accomplices from Dewsbury have now also been jailed. Zahid Hussain, 48, received 10 years and six months for six counts of indecent assault. Mohammed Chhibda, 49, was jailed for 11 years for two counts of indecent assault, while Basharat Wali, 46, was sentenced to 12 months for two counts of indecent assault.
Victim's Statement
In a powerful statement, the victim said: 'I was so young, so vulnerable and they knew exactly what they were doing. They didn't care that I was a child. They used me, abused me, then discarded me. They took pieces of my soul, pieces of my body, pieces of me that I will never get back. They made sure I would never be the same again. The worst part was the abuse didn't stop when it ended. It never ends. Every time I go into a bathroom or hear certain music played in a car, the fear and memories flood back like a tidal wave.'
Details of the Abuse
The court heard that Hussain was the first to sexually assault the girl at a party, pulling her by her hair into a room and forcing her to perform oral sex. Chhibda forced her to perform oral sex in a parked vehicle, and Wali also made her perform oral sex. The abuse occurred between 1994 and 1999 when the victim was aged 13 to 17. She stopped attending school regularly and was plied with alcohol before the sexual offending began.
Sahota's offending took place between 1997 and 2000, when the victim was 16 to 17 years old and working at his takeaway. He paid her more than other employees and subjected her to repeated non-consensual sexual activity, including rape and sexual assaults by penetration at commercial and residential premises and in vehicles. Sahota was found guilty of 23 counts and sentenced to 21 years.
Police and CPS Response
Detective Chief Inspector Rob Stevens of Kirklees Police said: 'The sentencing of these three men marks another milestone for the survivor. Her victim personal statement makes plain the devastating impact these offences had, leaving her with psychological trauma which haunts her to this day. We hope seeing them held accountable can bring her some measure of comfort.'
Julia McSorley, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service's Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, added: 'These perpetrators deliberately targeted this victim because she was younger and vulnerable. Jagtar Sahota further exploited that vulnerability, subjecting her to sustained and degrading sexual abuse. The sentences represent an important measure of accountability for these serious offences, which have had a profound and lasting impact on the victim.'
