Raja Zulqurnean

In a landmark case prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, Raja Zulqurnean, aged 42, was sentenced for his role in the sexual exploitation of a vulnerable child in Bradford over two decades ago. The offences occurred between 2002 and 2004, when the victim was aged 13 to 16 and in local authority care, making her particularly susceptible to manipulation.

Bradford Crown Court heard during the first trial on 29 January 2025 that Zulqurnean deliberately targeted the victim, locking her in a property for extended periods, using her for sex at his convenience, and exerting complete control over her life. He would go through her phone, dictate how she dressed, prevent her from seeing her family or attending school, and take her money. His abuse escalated to physical violence, including an incident where he struck her on the head with an iron, forcing her to provide a false explanation to hospital staff and police.

Following his conviction on five counts of indecent assault and six counts of rape, Zulqurnean was initially sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment on 14 May 2025. However, upon referral by the CPS to the Attorney General’s Office under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme, the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and imposed a harsher term of 23 years' imprisonment on 5 September 2025. This outcome underscores the severity of his callous disregard for the victim's wellbeing.

Martin McRobb, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, stated: “The defendants in this case deliberately targeted a child and exploited her vulnerabilities for their own selfish sexual gratification. The victim was manipulated, threatened, passed around and treated as an object by men who showed a callous disregard for her wellbeing and dignity.” The case, investigated by West Yorkshire Police, highlights the CPS's commitment to prosecuting historical child sexual abuse, with reporting restrictions lifted on 3 October 2025 to allow public disclosure.