Indian Man, 15 Others Jailed for Sexually Assaulting Women in UK

An Indian origin man and 15 of his associates’ have been jailed for over 200 years for being part of a grooming gang that preyed on vulnerable young girls in Huddersfield in the U.K.

According to a police statement, Amere Singh Dhaliwal, 35, of Holly Road, Thornton Lodge, and the leader of the gang was jailed for life for being involved in 22 rape offenses and will remain on license for life. The other members of the gang have received prison terms ranging from five to 18 years for their role.

Singh was charged with multiple counts of rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, and involving in sexual activity with a child. He was also charged for trafficking for sexual exploitation, making indecent images and child prostitution along with offenses of administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual act and a racially aggravated assault.

Four more men have been found guilty by a jury at Leeds Crown Court and are awaiting sentences for multiple offenses such as rape and trafficking for sexual exploitation.

“Since the beginning of January 2018, Leeds Crown Court has heard chilling and horrifying evidence in relation to a gang of men who subjected young vulnerable girls to years of repeated serious sexual abuse, supplied them with drugs and alcohol and trafficked them across the region for their own sexual gratification,” the statement said.

An extensive and extremely complex and sensitive investigation was conducted by detectives in Kirklees, spanning nearly five years to bring a case in front of a judge at crown court to secure justice for all 15 victims.

In 2013, the first report was made to the police by a victim and since then, the police have identified 15 victims and pieced together the investigation.

The location for all the offenses was around Huddersfield and all suspects originate from the town, the police said adding the offenses occurred between 2004 and 2011 against girls aged between 11 and 17-year-old.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Mottershaw, from West Yorkshire Police, who led the investigation, said, “First and most importantly, I would like to pay tribute to each and every victim who came forward firstly to report these heinous crimes, but to go through the grueling court process which has taken nearly a year to conclude and to bravely give their accounts to us and the court. I cannot praise them enough for their courage and tenacity in helping us secure justice for them against these defendants.

“The investigation into this case has been extremely complex and the investigative team have worked tirelessly for the past five years to ensure that no stone has been left unturned. We welcome the convictions and sentences which have been passed down throughout the year to these depraved individuals, who subjected vulnerable young children to unthinkable sexual and physical abuse, Mottershaw said. “Child sexual exploitation is abhorrent and is one of the most important challenges facing the police. Safeguarding the vulnerable and protecting victims is West Yorkshire Police’s top priority. 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.”