Twenty Men Jailed for Child Sexual Abuse

Twenty men have been sentenced to a combined total of 219 years in prison for the sexual abuse of four girls aged 12 to 16 in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, during a decade-long period from 2001 to 2010. The investigations began in 2016 after allegations were reported, leading to multiple complex trials that concluded recently, allowing the identities of the offenders to be made public. The abuse included rape and exploitation, with the victims showing immense courage in coming forward and enduring the legal process. Detective Chief Inspector Claire Smith highlighted the ongoing commitment of West Yorkshire Police to tackle child sexual exploitation and encourage other victims to report abuse. The extensive investigations revealed a pattern of abuse among a grooming gang, with some offenders receiving sentences of over a decade for their crimes. Legal restrictions had previously prevented the public disclosure of these outcomes, which have now been lifted.