Twelve men who repeatedly gang-raped and abused white schoolgirl they saw as 'utterly worthless' are jailed for 140 YEARS - but alleged ringleader 'remains on the run after fleeing to Bangladesh'

12 men abused girl when she was 13 and 14 , Bradford Crown Court heard
In one of the brutal attacks she was raped by five of the men in succession
Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said it shows 'truth of the evil' of Asian sex gangs
Ringleader Arif Chowdhury, 20, fled to Bangladesh during the probe in 2012

An gang of 12 Asian men who repeatedly raped a vulnerable schoolgirl they treated as 'utterly worthless' have today been jailed for a total of 140 years.

Their white British victim was abused over a period of 13 months when she was just 13 and 14 years old in 2011-2012 and in one of the attacks, she was raped by five of the men consecutively.

Eleven were today jailed for rape and a twelfth man was jailed for sexual activity with a child under 16 today at Bradford Crown Court, but the ringleader has fled to Bangladesh.

Khalid Mahood (left), 34, was given an extended sentence of 17 years and Saqib Younis (right), 29, from Keighley jailed for 13 years at Bradford Crown Court

Faisal Khan (left), 27, from Keighley was jailed for 13 years at Bradford Crown Court and Sufyan Ziarab (right), 22, from Keighley, Yorkshire, for 15 years

Tanqueer Hussain (left), 23, from Keighley was jailed for 13 years and received a five year consecutive sentence for the rape of a second underage victim. Bilal Ziarab (right), 21, from Bradford, was jailed for 12 years

Some of the abuse took place in an underground car park where there was graffiti with the victim's name and the word 'corner' in Keighley, West Yorkshire, where most of the men were from.

The news comes as it emerged that:

Ringleader Ahmed Al-Choudhury who facilitated most of the offences is believed to now be living in Bangladesh after fleeing at the beginning of the investigation in 2012
Keighley MP Kris Hopkins spoke out about the 'sick model' of Asian sex gangs grooming vulnerable young girls for sex in West Yorkshire
Hopkins MP caused controversy in 2012 for claiming that Muslim men are 'fundamentally racist' and groups were 'out raping white girls' at that very moment

After the sentencing, Kris Hopkins, Conservative MP for Keighley spoke out against the 'sick model of organised groups of Asian men grooming young white girls'.

He said the sentenced were vindication for controversial comments he made during a parliamentary debate in 2012, claiming that organised groups of Asian men were 'going around raping white girls'.

Mr Hopkins MP said today: 'I was castigated from many quarters, received many abusive pieces of correspondence and on one occasion was forced to clear my constituency office after receiving a threat.

'This case, the many guilty verdicts reached and the heavy sentences rightly handed down underline the nature and the truth of the evil I spoke about back then and will continue to raise until it has been eradicated.'

In a Commons speech three years ago, Mr Hopkins caused controversy three years ago when he suggested Muslim men were 'fundamentally' sexist towards women.

Yasser Kabir (left), 25, from was jailed for 15 years and Nasir Khan, 22, from Keighley, was jailed for 13 years

Mohammed Akram, 63, was jailed for five years for rape at Bradford Crown Court and Hussain Sardar (right), 19, from Keighley received six years detention in a young offenders institution

Israr Ali (left), 19, from Keighley, received three and a half years detention and Zain Ali, 20, from Keighley, received eight years, both in a young defenders institute

ESCAPED RINGLEADER WAS AN 'EVIL AND VIOLENT DRUG DEALER'

Arif Chowdhury, 20, allegedly left for Bangladesh during the investigation after he was arrested in 2012

Arif Chowdhury, 20, allegedly left for Bangladesh during the investigation after he was arrested in 2012 in connection to the raping of the schoolgirl, Bradford crown court heard last year.

He is also accused of pimping her out to his contacts in Keighley when he was just 15.

Louise Blackwell QC described Chowdhury, a convicted drug dealer, as being 'evil' and violent.

A jury heard how Chowdhury first raped the girl, who cannot be named, behind a church when he was 15.

He had previously got to know her when she was 13 after persuading her to do drug runs in Keighley.

She had attempted to stop helping the drugdealer, revealing to police how he had racially abused her and then raped her.

Chowdhury subjected her to regular beatings and made her have sex with other men in a year-long ordeal.

He allegedly brought her to an underground car park to meet four teenage friends of Chowdhury before they raped her.

He warned that gangs of Asian men were at large in Keighley, raping white girls, in the debate which followed the Rotherham sexual abuse scandal.

Questions were asked after it emerged that between 1997 and 2013, there were various reports of sexual exploitation at the hands of Asian men, but some were never made public or finalised.

During the case, the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said their behaviour throughout the trial was the worst he had seen in 40 years of legal practice.

Judge Roger Thomas QC condemned the 'insolent and disrespectful behaviour' the accused showed in court which he said reflected their treatment of their victim.

He told them: 'The attitudes of the majority of you have so clearly demonstrated to these proceedings has been contemptuous, disrespectful and arrogant on a scale that I have hardly seen before in many years of practice in criminal law.

'Exactly the same attitude to the 13/14 year old girl who you all sexually abused and exploited for your own selfish gratification.'

He added: 'None of these defendants had any concern for the victim.

'They were totally uninterested in her welfare and what damage they were causing her.

'The victim clearly demanded pity and understanding but their view of her was heartless and demeaning.

'They saw her as a pathetic figure who had no worth and who served no purpose than to be an object that they could sexually misuse and cast aside.

'They showed her no shred of decency or humanity when as a vulnerable child she so needed care and understanding.'

The court heard their victim now has post-traumatic stress disorder and clinical depression.

KEILEIGH MP WHO SPARKED OUTRAGE BY CLAIMING 'GANGS OF MUSLIM MEN ARE GOING AROUND RAPING WHITE GIRLS' DURING DEBATE IN 2012

Kris Hopkins, MP for Keighley

Kris Hopkins, MP for Keighley, said the extraordinary claim was a ‘fact’ and urged government agencies to tackle the problem, during a parliamentary debate in 2012.

But he was criticised by Muslim leaders in his constituency, who said he overstepped the mark during a Commons debate.

Mr Hopkins, a former leader of Bradford city council, also claimed Muslim men were ‘fundamentally’ sexist towards women, and politicians had to challenge behaviour and culture.

Speaking in a parliamentary debate on child sexual exploitation, Mr Hopkins claimed mainstream parties had failed by not speaking out about the racial and cultural aspect to some abuse cases and extremists groups had filled the vacuum.

He told MPs: ‘The British National Party will use grooming as a key element of its campaign in the Rotherham election campaign, which will start soon.

‘Not all British Pakistani men are abusing white kids. There is a minority, though. The media coverage gives long lists of notorious abusers - including vicars, priests and celebrities - who are all white and non-Muslim.’

The ‘vast majority’ of child abusers in this country are white, he added.
‘But we should not get away from the fact that gangs of Muslim men are going round and raping white kids at this moment in time.

‘That is an horrendous thing to say, but it is the fact of what is happening. I want to explore some of the state’s agencies’ behaviour towards that, and some of the community’s associated behaviour and culture.’

Mr Hopkins conceded that his friends in the Commons and ‘back home’ would not like what he was saying, but he felt it had to be said.

‘Fundamentally, there is a sexist behaviour by Muslim men towards women,’ he said.

‘We talk about institutions and commissions and all the rest of it. Fundamentally, as leaders, we need to challenge the behaviour that is going on.

‘We need to do that from a point, though, of not being racist. We are friends who want those people to be successful in our society. They are part of British society, but there is behaviour that is unacceptable.’

In a statement, she told the court: 'My perception of what a normal relationship is is warped. Trust issues effect every aspect of my life.

'I have also had many physical effects. I was physically assaulted and punched and kicked and these hurt when I am tired.

'My moods are very variable and can be up and down at any time. I have no coping mechanisms and feel out of control.

'The court process has been very difficult. My anxiety and stress levels have been increased. I have struggled to remain in control of my emotions and life in general.'

The court heard how the majority of defendants had a host of previous convictions ranging from drugs, dangerous driving, assault, public disorder, stealing and handling stolen goods.

Khalid Raja Mahmood has a 'significant record' and is currently serving six and a half years for the rape of a 43-year-old woman and a consecutive one and a half years for attempting false imprisonment of a child.

Sufyan Ziarab, who has been jailed for 15 years outside Bradford Crown Court before sentencing

Other convictions include seven sexual offences, three offences of indecent assault and two for curb crawling, and the court heard he was nicknamed 'creepy Khalid'.

Mahmood, 34, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and three counts of sexual activity with a child.

He was twice the victim's age when he met her and had plied her with drink.

The judge told him: 'Having met the victim you set about grooming her for sex. You drank alcohol and you offered the victim drink and drugs.

'You were then able to carry out your sexual offending against her, she being in that extremely vulnerable state.'

Speaking afterwards, West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson, said: 'Child sexual exploitation (CSE) and sexual abuse are abhorrent crimes.

'I welcome today's sentencing and commend the painstaking and thorough investigation by West Yorkshire Police, with the assistance of Bradford Council's Safeguarding Team. I would also like to praise the courage of the brave survivors of these horrendous crimes for coming forward and giving evidence.

'I hope today's sentencing sends a clear message to those involved in CSE that the Police and partner agencies will do everything in their power to prevent CSE and sexual abuse and in seeking justice for the victims.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Bryar, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: 'We are pleased that these men have now been sentenced for their terrible crimes against vulnerable young girls.

'We would again like to praise the victims for their courage in coming forward and enabling these men to be put before the courts. We hope that today's sentences will give them some closure and help them with rebuilding their lives.

'Child Sexual Exploitation remains a priority for West Yorkshire Police. It is totally unacceptable and it is the responsibility of all agencies, communities and individuals to identify those responsible and help bring them to justice.

Faisal Khan makes a gun gesture with his hand and Mohamed Akram walks outside court before the sentencing. The judge said that their behaviour throughout the trial was the worst he has seen in 40 years

SENTENCES AND FORMER CONVICTIONS OF 'HEARTLESS' RAPISTS

Khalid Mahood, 34, was given an extended sentence of 17 years comprising a custodial term of 13 and a half years and an extended licence of three and a half years.

Sufyan Ziarab, 22, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, was jailed for 15 years.

His brother Bilal Ziarab, 21, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, was jailed for 12 years.

Yasser Kabir, 25, from Keighley was jailed for 15 years with a consecutive five years after being found guilty in June 2015 for offences on two girls aged between five and nine when he was between 13 and 15.

Hussain Sardar, 19, from Keighley received six years detention in a young offenders institution.

Nasir Khan, 22, from Keighley, was jailed for 13 years.

His brother Faisal Khan, 27, from Keighley was jailed for 13 years.

Saqib Younis, 29, from Keighley was jailed for 13 years.

Israr Ali, 19, from Keighley, received three and a half years detention in a young offenders institute.

Zain Ali, 20, from Keighley, received eight years in a young defenders institute.

Tanqueer Hussain, 23, from Keighley was jailed for 13 years and received a five year consecutive sentence for the rape of a second underage victim in 2009.

Mohammed Akram, 63, was jailed for five years.

Nazir Khan had a conviction for exposure and Bilal Ziarab a previous conviction for sexual activity with a child.

Only Tauqeer Hussain and Mohammed Akram were of previous good character.