Man jailed for rape and trafficking offences

Sajad Hussain was jailed for 21 years at Leeds Crown Court on Monday

A man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after a major police investigation into the sexual abuse of women and girls in West Yorkshire.

Sajad Hussain, 40, from Batley, was convicted of the rape and false imprisonment of a 20-year-old woman between 2010 and 2011.

At Leeds Crown Court, he was also found guilty of trafficking and aiding and abetting the rape of an 18-year-old woman between 2008 and 2009.

Hussain was the latest of 25 men to be sentenced as part of West Yorkshire Police's Operation Tourway.

The long-running inquiry investigated the non-recent sexual exploitation of young women and girls in North Kirklees.

Hussain, who was jailed on Monday, was convicted of the offences following a trial in 2023.

Sajad Hussain is the latest of 25 men who have been jailed for sexual abuse offences as part of Operation Tourway

Det Ch Insp Oliver Coates said: “Sajad Hussain committed highly serious sexual offences and also aided others to do so, speaking volumes for his attitude to his victims who he treated with contempt and disdain.

“The significant sentence he has been given reflects the depth of his offending and we hope it has brought some comfort to his victims."

He encouraged victims of sexual assault, no matter how long ago the offence took place, to come forward.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].