In January, brothers Fayaz and Imtiaz Ahmed were sentenced to prison in their absence for raping a young girl in Keighley during the 1990s when she was between 13 and 14 years old. Fayaz, aged 45, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years, while 62-year-old Imtiaz received a nine-year sentence. Both fled before their trial began and are believed to have left the country.
West Yorkshire Police announced that eight people had been arrested in connection with the case, as investigations continue to locate the two men. Six men and two women, ranging from 26 to 76 years old, were arrested in Keighley, Shipley, and the Nelson area of Lancashire on suspicion of assisting the offenders.
Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Greenbank from Bradford District Police emphasized the ongoing efforts to locate Fayaz and Imtiaz. “Our focus remains on ensuring that these serious sexual offenders are located and apprehended so that justice can be served,” Greenbank said.
The two brothers were convicted alongside Ibrar Hussain, 47, who appeared at trial and was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison. The three men were convicted following a series of trials involving eight men and two victims, all of whom endured sustained abuse and exploitation.
Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore recently expressed concerns over the length of the sentences handed down to the offenders. In a letter to the Attorney General, Moore criticized the “pathetically short sentences” given to the men, which were deemed weak enough to be challenged under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) Scheme.
The search for the Ahmed brothers continues, with authorities working in partnership with the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Crime Agency.
