Twenty-five men, predominantly of South Asian origin, have been sentenced to a combined total of 346 years in prison for their involvement in the “abhorrent in the extreme” rape, sexual abuse, and trafficking of girls between 1999 and 2012 in the North Kirklees area of West Yorkshire. The convictions were a result of Operation Tourway, an investigation that began in 2015 focusing on the towns of Batley and Dewsbury.
These men were found guilty in a series of trials held at Leeds Crown Court between 2022 and 2024, although reporting restrictions were only lifted recently. Detective Chief Inspector Oliver Coates of Kirklees Police commended the bravery of the women who came forward to report the abuse they experienced as young girls, allowing law enforcement to take action against these offenders.
The men were found guilty of various offenses ranging from rape to trafficking, and their sentences ranged from four and a half years to 30 years. The police hailed the victims for their courage in standing up against their abusers and emphasized the importance of their actions in bringing these sexual predators to justice.
