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Police charge 12 in child sex abuse inquiry

Andrew BartonYorkshire
News imageBBC/Oli Constable The image shows the exterior of Bradford Magistrates’ and Coroner’s Courts building. The structure is made of concrete with a series of tall, narrow vertical windows across the upper section. Above the windows there is a royal coat of arms. In the foreground there is a set of wide concrete steps leading up to the entrance, which has metal railings on both sides. On the right side of the image, a large vertical wall displays a white rectangular sign with black text that reads: BRADFORD MAGISTRATES’ AND CORONER’S COURTS.BBC/Oli Constable
Eleven men and one woman are due to appear at Bradford Magistrates' Court on 4 February

Twelve people have been charged as part of a police investigation into non-recent child sex abuse in West Yorkshire.

Eleven men, aged between 40 and 73, and a 55-year-old woman, have been charged with offences, including rape, indecent assault and threats to kill.

West Yorkshire Police said the alleged offences are said to have been committed against two female victims under the age of 16, between 2000 and 2004, at addresses in Calderdale.

The suspects from Halifax, Brighouse and Dewsbury were charged earlier this week and are due to appear at Bradford Magistrates' Court on 4 February.

A police spokesperson said those charged were:

  • Safraz Azram, 57 of Halifax, charged with six counts of rape and one count of indecent assault on a girl under 16
  • Shazad Nazir, 50, formerly of Halifax, charged with four counts of rape
  • Gulbhar Aziz, 50, of Halifax, charged with rape and attempted rape
  • Raja Yasin, 73, formerly of Halifax, charged with indecent assault of a girl under 14
  • Irfaan Bashir, 42, of Halifax, charged with four counts of rape
  • Asad Ali, 41, of Brighouse, charged with two counts of rape
  • Mohammed Hamza, 52, of Halifax, charged with three counts of rape
  • Adil Arshid, 40, of Halifax, charged with rape
  • Thomas Jackson, 71 of Halifax, charged with sexual assault of a girl under 13
  • Shazad Rehman, 43, of Dewsbury, charged with five counts of rape and making threats to kill
  • Abdul Hafeez, 49, of Dewsbury, charged with indecent assault of a girl under 16 and causing/inciting a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity
  • Joanne Lowther, 55, of Dewsbury, charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm

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