Basharat Dad

Six men, including three brothers from the Dad family, were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court for a series of heinous child sex offences committed against two young girls in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, nearly two decades prior. The case emerged following a landmark report by Professor Alexis Jay in August 2014, which exposed the systemic abuse and trafficking of approximately 1,400 children in the area between 1997 and 2013.

Basharat Dad, aged 32 from Eastwood, Rotherham, was one of the key perpetrators in this gang. Alongside his brothers Nasar Dad and Tayab Dad, he was convicted of 16 offences in total, encompassing rape, indecent assault, and false imprisonment. The victims, described as naive and vulnerable, were targeted, plied with alcohol and cannabis, and coerced into performing sexual acts. In one particularly harrowing incident, one of the girls was locked alone in a flat for hours without food, water, or electricity, highlighting the extreme intimidation and control exerted by the offenders.

The trial concluded on 25 January 2017, with five of the men found guilty of 21 offences. Basharat Dad received the longest sentence among the group, totalling 20 years in prison. Following the sentencing, two of the men, including his brother Tayab, shouted 'Allahu Akbar' from the dock, as reported by the Rotherham Advertiser. Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Martin Tate of South Yorkshire Police described the hearing as the 'culmination of a lengthy and complex investigation', noting that it was the third major inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, resulting in 18 criminals jailed for over 280 years combined.

Reviewing lawyer Mark Langan from the Crown Prosecution Service emphasised the 'catalogue of vile sex offences' committed, praising the victims' 'extraordinary courage' in coming forward. The investigation was led by South Yorkshire Police in partnership with Rotherham Council and the Crown Prosecution Service. The collective sentences for the six men exceeded 80 years, providing some measure of justice for the survivors.