'It haunts me' - Four men convicted of rape and sexual abuse of teenage girl more than 30 years ago
The victim of a group of men who sexually abused her as a teenager has said the incidents ‘haunt’ her as her attackers were finally brought to justice.
The victim was a teenager when she was raped and sexually abused by the men in Kirklees and Wakefield between 1994 and 2000.
West Yorkshire Police praised her courage for helping to convict the four men following a trial.
Detectives said the abuse she suffered was “absolutely appalling” and thanked her for reporting the offending.
Jagtar Sahota was jailed for 21 years for 11 counts of rape and 11 counts of indecent assault at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday (Apr 29) after he was found guilty following a trial.
The 64-year-old, of Wakefield, was also jailed for one count of actual bodily harm, with all offending taking place between the years 1997 and 2000.
In a statement from the survivor, which was read during Jagtar Sahota’s trial, she said: “There are no words what this man has done to me. He took something from me that I can never get back and it’s not just what he did in his moments of abuse- it's the lifetime of destruction that followed.
“The pain caused didn't end when he walked away. No. It lives with me every single day. It haunts me in ways I can't explain.
“I don't know if I'll ever find peace, but I do know this, I'm trying. I'm trying to find a way to heal, even if it's one broken piece at a time.”
On Tuesday (Apr 28) two other men, Zahid Hussain, 48, and Mohammed Chhibda, 49, were found guilty of indecent assault offences against the same woman.
The men, who are all from Dewsbury, committed the offences between 1994 and 1997.
A fourth man, Basharat Wali, aged 46, from Dewsbury, had already pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault.
They will be sentenced on June 4.
Detective Chief Inspector Rob Stevens, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “The survivor in these trials has shown enormous courage in coming forwards to make these men answer for the huge and lasting damage they caused her.
“As her statement makes clear, the appalling abuse she suffered has taken a dreadful toll on her throughout her teenage and then adult life.
“Thanks to her bravery though, these four men have now all been convicted, with one sentenced and receiving a substantial term in prison.
“We continue to urge all victims of sexual offending who may not have reported offences to come forwards, no matter when crimes took place. Specialist officers will always, listen, investigate, and do whatever they can to secure justice for you.”