A man who raped a 14-year-old schoolgirl in Bradford has been jailed more than two decades after the attack, following a breakthrough in DNA evidence.
Abdul Qayum, now 53, was convicted at Bradford Crown Court and sentenced to 14 years in prison. He has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life.
The offence took place on 9 June 2004, when the victim, then aged 14, was approached by Qayum, who was a passenger in a car driven by a friend. After attempting to persuade her to go with them, he ordered her into the vehicle.
She was given cannabis before being driven to Qayum’s flat on Jacob Street, where she was also given alcohol. After feeling unwell, she was put to bed in a bedroom by the driver. Qayum, who was 31 at the time, later entered the room, shouting and swearing before raping her.
He attempted to stop her from leaving, but she managed to call police and escape the property.
Qayum was arrested at the scene along with the driver. The driver was later eliminated from enquiries, while Qayum denied the offence. He was released on bail after it was determined there was insufficient evidence at the time to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.
The case remained unresolved until June 2023, when officers from West Yorkshire Police reopened the investigation as part of Operation Recall, a review of non-recent rape and serious sexual assault cases using advances in forensic science.
Fresh analysis identified male DNA from samples taken at the time, which matched Qayum.
He was re-arrested and later charged in July 2024 following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted after a trial.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said:
“I was a 14-year-old child, and you had no right to take me away from living a normal happy life. No amount of time you serve will ever be enough for the suffering I have endured, but I am glad and relieved that I have finally got the justice I deserve.
“I know now that I should not blame myself. There is only one person to blame, and that is you. It has taken twenty-two years to get justice whilst you lived a normal life. I feel as though I am the one who has been serving a sentence from the damage you caused.
“What you did will never leave me, but I can finally move on after some closure and start to heal.”
Detective Sergeant Richard Ord, of the Major Investigation Review Team, said:
“Qayum preyed on a vulnerable young schoolgirl in the worst of circumstances, and she has had to live with the impact of his actions for all these years.
“He denied the offence at the time, and unfortunately the evidence available then was not sufficient to progress to a charge. Advances in forensic science meant we were able to reopen the case and ensure he was held accountable.
“We hope this outcome provides some degree of comfort to the victim, knowing he has finally been brought to justice.”
Police said the case highlights the importance of ongoing reviews into historic offences, with new forensic techniques continuing to deliver justice years after crimes were committed.
