Sajid Adalat

Sajid Adalat, aged 48, was among twenty men sentenced to a total of 219 years in prison for raping and abusing four girls in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. The sexual offences took place between 2001 and 2010, with victims aged 12 to 16. Adalat's conviction arose from the first 2016 investigation into the exploitation of two girls aged 13 to 16 from 2006 to 2009.

Trials occurred at Bradford Crown Court, with Adalat convicted of rape in the first trial beginning October 2021. He received a seven-year custodial sentence. The case details were withheld until court restrictions were lifted on Wednesday, enabling West Yorkshire Police to disclose the outcomes of three investigations.

Detective Chief Inspector Claire Smith commented on the significance of the convictions: “I welcome the sentences handed to these offenders for the abhorrent abuse these young girls were subjected to.” The investigations revealed a pattern of grooming and abuse, with jurors hearing evidence over multiple trials in recent years.

This case is part of ongoing efforts to combat child sexual abuse in the region, as Smith stated: “It’s never too late to report child sexual abuse. I encourage anyone who was abused as a child to speak to someone and seek support.” The prosecutions echo earlier exposures of grooming gangs in places like Rotherham and Rochdale.