£435K LEGAL AID BILL FOR CHILD GROOMING GANG
A GROOMING gang which inflicted a two-year rape ordeal on a girl received £435,643 in legal aid.
Eight paedophiles drove the drugged teen to parks, flats and isolated spots where they raped her from the age of 14.
The gang was found guilty on 23 counts of rape and jail terms totalling 78 years have so far been handed out.
But the cost of convicting them has triggered outrage.
David Spencer, from the Centre of Crime Prevention, said: “It is staggering that anyone would think that this is the best use of nearly half a million pounds of taxpayers’
money. It is clear the system is in dire need of reform.”
Jim McConalogue, director of the think-tank Civitas, added: “All individuals have a
right to a fair trial, but almost half a million pounds is out of all proportion.”
A Freedom of Information request revealed the legal aid bill for six men – Barber Hussain, 36, Nazir Khan, 30, Omar Safdar, 30, Kamran Hussain, 29, Hassan Basharat, 32, and Imran Sabir, 42.
Some £200,888 went to solicitors, £234,755 to other lawyers and Khan accounted for £92,000 of the costs.
Bradford crown court heard of systematic abuse as the girl was drugged and plied with drink in Keighley, West Yorks.
CPS lawyer Ed Hulbert said: “Eight men cynically manipulated and ruthlessly exploited a young and vulnerable girl.”
The Ministry of Justice said: “Legal aid is paid to legal representatives to ensure a fair trial.”