Eight of grooming gang step nearer with appeal bid
EIGHT members of the Huddersfield grooming gang have had the first stage of their applications to appeal either their convictions or sentences approved.
In November the Examiner reported that 17 members of the 20-strong gang had lodged appeals – including the ringleader, who was given a life sentence, and one man who is believed to be on the run.
Ringleader Amere Singh Dhaliwal, 36, of Crosland Moor, was described by a judge as the worst sexual offender he had ever encountered as he was found guilty of 54 offences against 11 girls.
An 18th member – Manzoor Hassan, also known as ‘Big Manny’ – also recently lodged an appeal against his convictions and sentence.
Now, a single judge at the Court of Appeal has referred most of the applications made on behalf of the defendants in the first trial to the full court, meaning three judges will now decide whether to grant or refuse them leave to appeal.
The single judge has also refused all of the applications made on behalf of the defendants in the second trial, with the exception of Hassan, whose application is still being processed.
Among the rejected applications is one made on behalf of Sajid Hussain, who went missing before he was convicted.
It is understood that any of the applications refused by the single judge can be renewed up until the end of the month.
Applications for two of the other men are still being processed as they were submitted later than the others.
The Court of Appeal still has no trace of any appeal lodged on behalf of Niaz Ahmed and Asif Bashir – two of the men who were jailed most recently.