Nine years for paedophile Bradford doctor, 71

THE victim of a paedophile Bradford doctor who abused her at his home and even in a hospital said the abuse she endured at his hands had destroyed her life.
71 year old retired GP Ahmed Masood. Picture: Ross Parry Agency71 year old retired GP Ahmed Masood. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
71 year old retired GP Ahmed Masood. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Ahmed Masood, 71, was jailed for nine years today after a jury found him guilty of a string of sexual assaults carried out in the 1980s.

A court heard that he had initially worked as a respected doctor in hospitals before becoming a GP in the middle of the decade.

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Last month, Masood was found guilty of six counts of indecent assault, but he was told in court today that had he been charged under recent guidelines he would have faced rape charges and a possible 15-year sentence.

The GP’s victim, who was known to him, fell foul to his inappropriate attentions when she was just seven years old. The abuse carried on until she was nine.

Father-of-one Masood abused the young girl both at his home in Bradford while his family were away, and at a hospital where he was working at the time and had quarters.

During the trial his victim wept giving evidence, she said her family had trusted Masood, who was not her family doctor.

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“He was charming and charismatic and really well known in the community,” she said.

On one occasion he picked the young girl up and took her back to his empty house, stopping to buy sweets and a porn video he made her watch, before abusing her on a bed.

During the trial it was claimed Masood told the terrified child her parents would drop dead if she did not keep quiet.

The jury was also told that Masood took his victim to Airedale General Hospital near Keighley and indecently assaulted her in staff accommodation.

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Judge Christopher Batty told Leeds Crown Court: “I don’t think it is any exaggeration to say her life has been ruined.”

Sentencing the retired GP, who sat emotionless throughout the proceedings, Judge Batty said: “You were sexually attracted to (the victim) and when she reached the young age of seven and eight you were not prepared to keep those urges to yourself.

“Instead you sought out opportunities to be alone with her and abuse her.

“You abused the trust of her parents in the most horrific way.”

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He added that while satisfying his sexual need Masood never gave a thought for his wife and son, or the victim and her family.

Judge Batty said the victim’s life had been “irreparably damaged”, adding she had been left suicidal and depressed since the abuse.

Katherine Pierpoint, defending, said her client “worked for the NHS for nearly 40 years, was well viewed by everyone he knows” and has health concerns.

Masood was of previous good character.

Speaking after sentencing, a spokeswoman for the victim said: “She is happy he has got the nine-year sentence.

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“The one thing she would have liked is for him to have shown some remorse. She would have liked a ‘sorry’ from him if nothing else.

“The one thing she feels very strongly about is that any people who suffered this as children, they don’t sit for 30 years and keep it to themselves.

“It’s destroyed the whole family and her life.”

Detective Constable Sonia Hutchinson, of the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said: “The victim was initially reluctant to report Masood’s crimes, but with the support of family and friends and our specially trained officers she finally felt able to do so.

“She has lived with this for more than 30 years, and we would like to thank her for the courage she has shown in coming forward.

“We hope that the sentence Masood has received today will enable her to move forward with her life.”