Last reviewed: June 2026
Kirklees Grooming Gang Jailed for 277 Years: What Happened and Where the Men Are Now
This is one of the largest grooming-gang prosecutions West Yorkshire Police has brought, and it attracted significant national attention. This page sets out the established facts — what the men were convicted of, how the case was prosecuted, and how the sentences work — in factual, non-graphic terms, with care for readers who may find the subject distressing.
What happened in the Kirklees case?
The convictions relate to the sustained sexual abuse of three girls, one of whom was just 12 years old when the offending began. The abuse took place largely in Dewsbury and Batley between 1995 and 2003. Prosecutors described how the victims were repeatedly assaulted, in some cases given Class A drugs, and treated by the offenders as commodities for their own gratification.
The investigation was a long-running effort by West Yorkshire Police, and the prosecutions were spread across six separate trials at Leeds Crown Court. Proceedings began in 2023, with the trials concluding and the final defendants sentenced over the following period.
How long were the sentences?
In total, the twenty people convicted received sentences amounting to around 277 years. Sentences varied according to each individual’s role and the seriousness of their offending. The longest single term reported was 28 years, handed to Sajid Majid, 53, of Mirfield, who was convicted of five offences of rape and three of indecent assault.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Investigating force | West Yorkshire Police |
| Court | Leeds Crown Court (six trials) |
| Number convicted | 20 |
| Combined sentence | ~277 years |
| Longest single term | 28 years |
| Location of offending | Dewsbury and Batley, Kirklees |
| Period | 1995–2003 |
What does a “combined” sentence of 277 years actually mean?
A widely reported headline total like 277 years is the sum of every individual’s sentence added together. It does not mean any one person will serve anywhere near that figure. Each offender serves his own sentence, and they run concurrently across the group, not consecutively as one block.
Because these are serious sexual offences and rape convictions, the men are not eligible for the 33% “earned progression” early-release point introduced by the Sentencing Act 2026 — rape and serious sexual offences are on the excluded list. They remain subject to the later release points (typically two-thirds for the most serious cases) and, where applicable, Parole Board scrutiny before any release.
- “One man got 277 years.” No. That figure is the combined total of all twenty sentences added together. The longest individual term was 28 years.
- “They will be out after a third of their time.” No. The 2026 earned-progression model excludes rape and serious sexual offences. These men face later release points.
- “It was a single trial.” The case was prosecuted across six separate trials at Leeds Crown Court because of the number of defendants and the complexity of the evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Who investigated the Kirklees grooming gang?
West Yorkshire Police led the investigation, which spanned several years and resulted in twenty convictions through six trials at Leeds Crown Court.
When did the abuse take place?
The offending occurred largely between 1995 and 2003, mainly in the Dewsbury and Batley areas of Kirklees. The prosecutions were brought decades later as the investigation built its case.
Will any of them be released early?
Those convicted of rape and serious sexual offences are excluded from the 33% earned-progression model. They are subject to the standard release arrangements for serious offences and, in many cases, to Parole Board assessment before release. Some will also be subject to extended licence supervision and sex offender notification requirements.
Where can victims and families get support?
Anyone affected by sexual abuse can contact specialist organisations such as the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) or the police directly. Support is available regardless of when the abuse took place.
Further reading
For how sentences are calculated and served, see our guide to the Sentencing Act 2026. Official information about this case is published by West Yorkshire Police, and sentencing principles are set out by the Sentencing Council.
This article reports on concluded court proceedings as a matter of public record and is written in deliberately non-graphic terms. This is a sensitive subject; anyone affected can seek support from the organisations linked above.
