Ismail Haji

A gang of four men, described by police as 'devious and manipulative', has been convicted at Leeds Crown Court for a series of serious sex offences against two teenage girls in West Yorkshire. The offences, which included rape, trafficking, grooming, and taking indecent photographs, occurred primarily in 2014 and preyed on the most vulnerable members of the community.

Ismail Haji, a 39-year-old former taxi driver from Rotary Close, Dewsbury, played a central role in the abuse. The case came to light after a 13-year-old victim disclosed to a school welfare officer that she had been seriously sexually assaulted. Investigations by West Yorkshire Police revealed that in August 2014, the 13-year-old and a 15-year-old girl first encountered Ismail Haji and Mohammed Chothia in Thornes Park, Wakefield. The girls were subsequently introduced to Imran Haji and Ibrahim Kola, leading to repeated sexual assaults at a flat in Dewsbury. The 13-year-old was also abused at another address.

Detective Inspector Lis Walker of West Yorkshire Police stated: 'These men took advantage of young and vulnerable victims for the sole purpose of sexually abusing them. They were devious and manipulative in order to achieve their vile objectives.' Chief Superintendent Mabs Hussain added that the gang 'behaved in a reprehensible fashion and targeted some of the most vulnerable people in our communities'.

Following a four-week trial at Leeds Crown Court, Ismail Haji was sentenced to 19 years in prison for three counts of rape, two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of grooming, and two counts of trafficking. The convictions underscore the police's commitment to prosecuting such offences, with the case originating from reports handled by West Yorkshire Police.