Three men who sexually abused a vulnerable girl have had their prison terms increased after they were found to be "unduly lenient".
Ibrar Hussain, 47, and brothers Imtiaz and Fayaz Ahmed, aged 62 and 45, were convicted of raping a girl in Keighley in the 1990s when she was aged 13 or 14.
In January, Hussain was jailed for six and a half years, Imtiaz Ahmed for nine years and Fayaz Ahmed given seven and a half years.
Following their sentencing, Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore contacted the Attorney General to complain about the sentences.
Robbie Moore MP said:
"Today, I can confirm that following pressure on the Attorney General, the sentences of three members of a rape gang in Keighley have been increased by the Court of Appeal after being found to be unduly lenient. But the new sentences go nowhere near enough Their original sentences were ridiculously short — today’s decision increases them by just 8 years combined. Furthermore, the two of these offenders escaped justice and remain abroad, which is absolutely pathetic.
I get that the Court of Appeal must act within the existing sentencing guidelines, but in my view ten years in prison is absolutely shocking for men who destroyed the lives of children. These men committed some of the most appalling crimes imaginable: rape, exploitation, and the sustained abuse of two young girls aged just 13 and 16, here in our town.
And this case raises deeper questions. If these three sentences were unduly lenient, why weren’t the sentences of the other five men involved in these same crimes reviewed as well? How on earth were two of these men allowed to flee the country before they ever stood trial? This is a justice system that continues to fail victims.
Radical change to sentencing is needed. I will continue to push relentlessly for the strongest possible sentences for these monsters and every single individual convicted of serious sexual offences in our area. Nothing less is acceptable."
