Bradford man jailed 20 years after raping schoolgirl as DNA links him to crime
It comes after an attack on Jacob Street in 2004
Last updated 19 hours ago
A Bradford man has been jailed after a DNA breakthrough linked him with the sexual assault of a schoolgirl 20 years ago.
53 year old Abdul Qayum will spend 14 years in prison following the attack, at Qayum's flat on Jacob Street, Bradford, on June 9 2004.
Qayum, then 31, had approached the victim as a passenger in a car and subsequently took her to his residence where she was assaulted.
Though arrested initially, insufficient evidence led to his release in 2004.
It was not until 2023 that new DNA evidence linked him to the offence, resulting in his re-arrest by West Yorkshire Police's Major Investigation Team.
Qayum was charged with rape in July 2024 and was convicted following a trial at Bradford Crown Court.
He'll be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.
Detective Sergeant Richard Ord, of the Major Investigation Review Team, said: “Qayum preyed on the victim, who was 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. Thankfully, advances in forensic science meant we were able to reopen the case on the basis of new DNA evidence and progress the investigation to see Qayum held criminally responsible.
“We hope it will provide some degree of comfort to the victim to know that he has now finally been brought to justice.”