A Bradford woman has spoken of her anger and disappointment after learning one of the men convicted of abusing her as a child is set to be released from prison after serving half of his sentence.
Fiona Goddard, who waived her right to anonymity to campaign for justice for victims of sexual abuse, was informed on Monday that Mohammed Usman, from Undercliffe, is due to be released on August 24.
This is around seven-and-a-half years before the end of his 15-year prison sentence.
In a statement published on her social media, Ms Goddard said she had been told her abusers fall under sentencing rules that applied before changes introduced in 2020.
She said: "Mohammed Usman is due to be released on 24 August, just next week, 7.5 years before the end of his 15-year sentence.
"Because my abusers were sentenced in 2019, they fall under the rules that applied before the changes introduced in 2020.
"They therefore aren't subject to the 67% threshold that applies to many offenders sentenced later."
Mohammed Usman
(Image: T&A)
She became a prominent campaigner for victims of child sexual exploitation and played a leading role in calls for an inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation and Grooming Gangs.
Abuser sentenced in 2019
Mohammed Usman was convicted as a part of the Bradford grooming gang trial in 2019.
He was found guilty of two counts of rape and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
At the trial at Bradford Crown Court, Mr Usman was told: “You treated her and her property as yours."
Fiona Goddard alongside Robbie Moore MP
(Image: T&A)
Fiona was informed on August 17 that he is due to be released next week.
She said: "I cannot pretend that serving 50 per cent of a 15 to 20-year sentence is justice.
"Over the next 12 months, five violent sexual offenders who were convicted in relation to my abuse will be released having served only half of their sentences."
Response from MP
On Monday, Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore wrote to the Prime Minister calling for urgent intervention to prevent the release.
In his letter, Mr Moore described the planned release as "utterly incomprehensible and completely unacceptable."
The Conservative MP wrote: "Usman was originally sentenced to 15 years in prison, following the heinous crimes he committed against Fiona Goddard when she was just 14 years old.
"Yet under your Government's current Early Release Scheme, Usman will walk free next Monday, seven and a half years before the end of his sentence."
(Image: Submitted)
Mr Moore called on the Government to prevent the release and ensure those convicted of rape, child sexual exploitation, grooming and domestic abuse are excluded from early release measures.
He said: "Fiona now deserves nothing less than her government – the British Government – to stand up for her."
Mr Moore also warned that allowing offenders to leave prison significantly before the end of their sentences risked undermining confidence in the criminal justice system among victims and survivors.
How the T&A reported on the sentencing at the time
(Image: T&A)
He also praised Ms Goddard for her campaigning work.
"Fiona has already endured more than any child should ever have to endure," he wrote.
"She then found the courage to waive her anonymity, speak publicly about what happened to her and campaign for justice, not only for herself, but for all victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation and grooming gangs."
'This isn't where the fight ends'
In her own statement, Ms Goddard vowed to continue her campaign work.
(Image: Lucy North/PA)
She said: "This isn't where the fight ends.
"We are already working on a campaign to make sure that when these offenders are released, any breach of their licence conditions is taken seriously and met with the full force of the law.
"Victims should never be left feeling that a 15-year sentence, or more, actually means serving only half of it."
Ms Goddard added: "I have spent years fighting for justice, not just for myself, but for thousands of victims whose lives were permanently changed by these men and other abusers like them.
"Justice has to be about victims and public safety, nothing else."
The T&A has contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment.