'He stole my childhood' - Brave victim of sexual abuser speaks out as he is jailed
The brave victim of a sexual abuser has spoken out after he has been jailed for 14 years.
The woman, who remains anonymous for legal reasons, said Parvaiz Akhtar ‘stole her childhood’ when he began abusing and raping her when she was just five years old.
The abuser continued for around another decade - and it is only now another 30 years on that she has been able to speak out about the horrific abuse she suffered.
Akhtar, 61, was jailed for 14 years at Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday (Apr 15).
She said: Parvaiz Akhtar's grooming and sexual abuse stole my childhood and dignity, causing decades of self-hatred and isolation that has left a devastating impact on my life including my relationships, my family and my cultural identity. His manipulative actions left me deeply traumatised.
"After over 30 years of silent suffering, I've finally found my voice and I am reclaiming my life, knowing the shame belongs to him.
“For any survivor, especially those from ethnic minority backgrounds, who face additional barriers, please know it's never too late to speak out. Your story matters, and support is available to help you heal and reclaim your life."
His victim reported the abuse to a third party and Akhtar was arrested when he returned to the UK in April 2024.
He was charged with three counts of rape and nine counts of sexual assault on a child. He denied 10 of the 12 charges but admitted one count of sexual assault and one count of rape.
However, he was unanimously found guilty of the other 10 offences following a five-day trial earlier this year.
As well as his prison sentence, Akhtar will also be ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Detective Constable Kerry Burhouse, of Wes tYorkshire Police’s Calderdale District Safeguarding Team, said: "We know the sentence handed to Akhtar today is a result of the immense bravery and courage of the survivor to report the abuse she suffered and to then go on to relive those traumatic experiences during the criminal justice process. I commend her for doing so.
“The strength it takes to speak up and report offending of this nature cannot be underestimated. She was a young child when this started and was exploited by a predatory male through no fault of her own.
“I hope it brings some reassurance that he is now behind bars but also highlights that, no matter the length of time passed, we will always do what we can to investigate and bring these offenders to justice. I also hope this will encourage others who may have suffered similar experiences to come forward and report them to us.
“When you report these crimes, you will be listened to, you will be believed, and we will do all we can to hold these dangerous perpetrators accountable for their actions”.