Shaqeel Hussain

Shaqeel Hussain, 36, from Spen Valley Road in Dewsbury, has received an additional 12-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to an indecent assault on a 16-year-old girl in Huddersfield between 2004 and 2005. This conviction is linked to the broader Operation Tendersea investigation into child sexual exploitation in the town, where multiple men abused young girls over many years from 1995 to 2011. Hussain was already serving an eight-year sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old girl, handed down in a February 2020 trial as part of the same probe, bringing his total imprisonment to nine years.

Leeds Crown Court imposed the consecutive sentence following Hussain's guilty plea, with reporting restrictions previously in place now lifted, allowing his identity to be publicly disclosed. The court proceedings revealed the depraved nature of his actions, demonstrating a complete lack of regard for his victims' well-being. This latest sentencing adds to the tally of 35 men convicted and jailed for a total of 380 years in connection with the grooming gang activities in Huddersfield.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard McNamara of the Kirklees District CID expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting: "Hussain was convicted for rape in an Operation Tendersea trial in February 2020 but at the time we were not able to release his identity. He has now been sentenced after pleading guilty to an indecent assault on a 16 year old victim, and can be named as reporting restrictions have been lifted. He will face a total of nine years in prison in total for both of these depraved offences in which he showed no regard whatsoever for his victims." McNamara also praised the victims' bravery in coming forward, which has been instrumental in holding offenders accountable.

The sentencing occurred in April 2020, aligning with ongoing efforts by West Yorkshire Police to address historic sexual abuse cases. Hussain's case highlights the persistent pursuit of justice in the face of organised child exploitation, ensuring that perpetrators face the full consequences of their crimes.