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We are continuing live coverage from Kirklees Magistrates Court in Huddersfield today as more people are due to appear charged with the sexual abuse of young girls.

18 men and one woman that can be named appeared yesterday charged with allegations including rape. They are mostly from the Huddersfield and Dewsbury area.

A further 12 men also been charged with allegations including rape are due to appear today. The men cannot be named for legal reasons.

The charges relate to allegations of sexual abuse of five girls from the Huddersfield area between 2005 and 2012.

No pleas were entered from the 19 defendants who appeared yesterday, and a date of November 1 was set for a preliminary hearing at Leeds Crown Court.

Stay with us for the latest updates from today's hearing.

Full story from today in court

Here’s a round up of everything that happened in court today.

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That's a wrap

And that concludes all defendants due up at Kirklees Magistrates Court.

There are 31 people charged in total, including one woman. Most are from the Huddersfield and Dewsbury areas. You can see the full list of names charged here.

No pleas have been entered and all cases have been sent to appear for a preliminary hearing at Leeds Crown Court on November 1.

Leeds Crown Court
Leeds Crown Court
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Reporting restriction on naming defendant overturned

The next and final defendant is Mohammed Akram, who has appeared via a video link from HMP Dovegate in Staffordshire. He can be named following a successful legal challenge from the Examiner.

The 41-year-old, of Manchester Road, Thornton Lodge, faces a charge of rape, and two counts of trafficking persons for sexual exploitation.

He was remanded into custody.

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Court re-sits

Afternoon proceedings have gotten underway at Kirklees Magistrates.

Up first is Samuel Fikru, 30, appearing via videolink from HMP Thameside. Fikru, originally from Ethipia, faces two charges of rape.

Fikru has been remanded into custody ahead of his hearing at Leeds Crown Court.

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All video links conclude

All video links for the morning session have now concluded. There are further video link hearings due this afternoon.

Kirklees Magistrates Court
Kirklees Magistrates Court (Image: Huddersfield Examiner)
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Defendant bailed

Manzoor Akhtar, 29, of Blackmoorfoot Road, Crosland moor, has been released on conditional bail.

Akhtar faces three charges of raping a girl aged between 13 and 15 and a charge of trafficking persons for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Akhtar is bailed with conditions not to contact prosecution witnesses or persons under 18, and must surrender his passport.

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Men appear on video link from Doncaster prison

Defendants are now appearing via video link from HMP Doncaster. All have reporting restrictions against them except one, Manzoor Akhtar, 29, from Crosland Moor.

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More reporting restrictions placed

Four defendants have now appeared via a video link from HMP Hull. They spoke only to confirm their personal details and also cannot be named due to reporting restrictions.

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More defendants appearing by prison link

Video links with HMP Leeds have concluded. We have now switched to HMP Hull where further defendants are due to appear via a prison video link.

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Resident District Judge Michael Fanning has sent all of the men to Leeds Crown Court where they will first appear on November 1.

He said:

These are matters which can only be dealt with at Crown Court. I am sending you to Leeds Crown Court to appear on November 1.

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Reporting restrictions placed

Three men have now appeared in court via a prison video link from HMP Leeds. They cannot be named for legal reasons but face charges of serious sexual offences including rape.

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Recap of yesterday's coverage

If you missed yesterday’s coverage, here’s a round up of what happened in court

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Defendants appearing via video link

Our court reporter is waiting for the first of three video link hearings from HMP Leeds to start

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Day two

It is day two of the court hearings at Kirklees Magistrates today.

A further 12 men are due in court today charged with child abuse offences. It’s off the back of 18 people who appeared yesterday. Stay with us for the latest updates from court.

Our court reporter says it’s all quiet outside the court building in Huddersfield town centre after angry scenes there yesterday.

Kirklees Magistrates' Court
Kirklees Magistrates' Court (Image: Huddersfield Examiner)
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Second hearing tomorrow

A further 12 defendants will appear in court for the first time tomorrow - we’ll be back tomorrow morning with live updates from Kirklees Magistrates Court.

In the meantime, here are the details of the defendants who appeared today, and can be named thanks to a legal challenge by our court reporter.

You can also read more about the protest outside the court this morning

And finally, here is a gallery of the men and one woman who appeared in court today.

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IN PICTURES: The men - and one woman - who appeared in court in connection with child sexual exploitation charges

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Almost all defendants have now appeared and been bailed

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First defendants bailed to appear at Leeds Crown Court

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IN PICTURES: Police and protesters outside court

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Protesters shout 'scum' as people enter court

Andrew Robinson reporting from the Kirklees Magistrates Court: “Shouts of abuse and ‘scum’ as people walk into the court building. Around 20 police officers trying to calm people down.”

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The people appearing in court today

These are the defendants appearing at Kirklees Magistrates Court today:


Iftikar Ali, aged 37, of Huddersfield, is charged with attempted rape of girl aged 13-15 and three counts of rape of a girl aged 13-15.

Usman Ali, aged 32, of Huddersfield, is charged with two counts of rape of a female aged 13-15.

Mohammed Waqas Anwar, aged 29, of Huddersfield, is charged with five counts of rape of a female aged 13-15.

Mohammed Suhail Arif, aged 30, of Huddersfield, is charged with rape of girl aged 13-15.

Amin Ali Choli, aged 36, of Huddersfield, is charged with two counts of rape of a female over 16-years-old.

Mohammed Dogar, aged 35, of Huddersfield, is charged with two counts of facilitating the commission of child sex offence.

Banaras Hussain aged 37, of Shipley, is charged with one count of rape of a female over 16.

Banaris Hussain, aged 35, of Huddersfield, is charged with one count of rape of a girl aged 13 – 15.

Basharat Hussain, aged 31, of Huddersfield, is charged with two counts of rape of a female aged 13-15.

Mubasher Hussain, aged 35, of Huddersfield, is charged with rape of a female aged 13-15 and sexual assault.

Shaqeel Hussain, aged 35, of Dewsbury, is charged with rape of a female aged 13-15 and two counts of trafficking.

Abdul Majid, aged 34, of Huddersfield, is charged with two counts of rape of female aged 13-15.

Fehreen Rafiq, aged 38, of Huddersfield, she is charged with two counts of facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

Gull Riaz, aged 42, of Huddersfield, is charged with rape of a female aged 13-15.

Mohammed Sajjad, aged 31, of Huddersfield, is charged with four counts of rape of a female age 13-15, one rape of a girl under 13 and facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

Umar Zaman, aged 30, of Huddersfield, is charged with two counts of rape of a female aged 13-15.

A further three men are also appearing but can not be named for legal reasons.

12 further defendants will appear tomorrow.

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Press, police and protesters gather

This includes a camera crew from a Russian television station...

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Andrew Robinson down at the court

Examiner reporter Andrew Robinson is down at Kirklees Magistrates Court as protesters start to gather.

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