LATEST NEWS: Victims must 'feel confident that if they speak out they will be listened to' after paedophile jailed

A MAN who sexually abused a primary-aged child over a five-year period in Bradford has been jailed for almost two decades.

Nigha Hussain, 48, of Court Road in Birmingham was charged with seven counts of indecent assault, three counts of attempted rape of a child and indecency with a child.

He was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court last Thursday (July 29), following a nine-day trial and a unanimous guilty verdict.

The total prison time is 18 years.

The 48-year-old was given 14 years for attempted rape of a child, four years for indecent assault, to run consecutively, and three years for indecency with a child, to run concurrently. 

The abuse began more than 20 years ago, when Hussain, who was around 22 at the time, started exposing himself in front of the female victim, on several occasions in Bradford.

It continued for five years.

The victim then reported the incident to West Yorkshire Police more than a decade later.

Hussain has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life.

West Yorkshire Police Investigating Officer Deborah Thornes said: “The actions of Hussain had a lasting impact on the victim, which is why she decided to come forward many years later and report what he had done, and I’d like to commend her bravery for doing so.

“Although his crimes were committed years ago, it does not diminish the severity of his actions, and I am glad that he has been brought to justice and will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars.

“It’s a small price to pay on the lasting impact his actions had on this victim. 

“I would encourage anyone who has been subject to this type of behaviour to please contact West Yorkshire Police, you will be listened too, and we will do our utmost to bring the perpetrator to justice.”