Banaris Hussain

Banaris Hussain, 36, from Crosland Moor, was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment at Leeds Crown Court following his conviction for rape. The offence involved a teenage girl who was groomed and subjected to sexual abuse by a group of men in Huddersfield as part of a broader pattern of child sexual exploitation uncovered in Operation Tendersea by West Yorkshire Police.

The case forms part of a series of trials addressing the 'wicked abuse' of vulnerable girls aged between 12 and 16 between 2005 and 2008. Judge Geoffrey Marson QC, presiding over the sentencing, highlighted the grooming tactics employed by a number of Asian men to facilitate the sexual abuse. He noted the traumatic effect on the victims and emphasised that Hussain had shown no remorse for his actions. The rape occurred when the victim was 14 or 15 years old, with Hussain committing the offence in the presence of others who were also abusing her.

As Hussain was led away from the courtroom, he protested, claiming it was a 'miscarriage of justice'. This sentencing marked Hussain as the sixth man convicted in this particular trial. The broader investigation has led to the conviction of 27 men overall for sexual exploitation in the town. Detective Chief Inspector Richard McNamara of West Yorkshire Police described the offences as 'depraved' and welcomed the sentences, stating they reflect the dreadful nature of the crimes committed against three vulnerable young girls. The girls were plied with drugs and alcohol and passed between men, underscoring the systematic nature of the abuse.

The convictions stem from a fifth trial in Operation Tendersea, which targeted historical sexual exploitation cases in Huddersfield. Previous sentencings in the same trial included five other men on Friday, with terms ranging from seven to 14 years for various counts of rape and attempted rape, though their names were protected for legal reasons.