Monstrous Trio Jailed for Raping and Abusing Teen Girls
Zahid Hassan, Saqib Raheel, and Sholan James have been locked up after a harrowing trial at Leeds Crown Court exposed their sickening crimes against vulnerable teenage girls.
Horrific Abuse Uncovered in Leeds
Following a nine-day trial and over eight hours of jury deliberations, the men were convicted of sexual offences dating back to 2006. Hassan, also known as Manny, raped an 18-year-old girl, aided by a friend dubbed ‘Fred’. A few years later, Raheel, James, and a third man sexually abused a 15-year-old girl, with Raheel finally raping her.
Yesterday, Judge Simon Phillips QC slammed their actions as “insidious and persistent” and handed down harsh sentences at the same court:
- Zahid Hassan – 21 years in prison (concurrent with an existing 18-year sentence for multiple child rapes and abductions)
- Saqib Raheel – 10-and-a-half years
- Sholan James – 6 years
Victims’ Brave Impact Statements Reveal Lasting Trauma
Prosecutor Kate Batty revealed chilling details: one victim was plied with alcohol until she was “unable to talk, unable to stand” before being raped amid the abusers’ laughter. Raheel degraded the other victim, boasting about letting “his boys go first” and filming the abuse.
The first victim said she lived with overwhelming “fear, stupidity, shame and anger”, struggling to trust men again after being laughed at and blamed for her abuse. She worried about bringing children into a world as cruel as hers.
The second victim battles severe anxiety, binge-eating, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty holding down a job.
Judge Delivers Tough Justice
Judge Phillips declared their sentences “severe” to send a warning to other predators: “The courts have to do what they can to protect young girls from abuse.”
Addressing Hassan, the judge condemned how he “treated your victim with apparent contempt” and abused her “like a rag doll.” Raheel and James also face years behind bars for their vile crimes.
Operation Tendersea, the West Yorkshire Police investigation into child sexual exploitation in Kirklees, continues to bring predators to justice.
