(Image: Newsquest)
FOUR men have been charged with serious sexual offences against teenage girls in West Yorkshire and are due to appear in court in September.
The charges relate to the alleged abuse of three girls, aged between 14 and 15, between 1998 and 2000, around the Kirklees area.
The men are due to appear at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 23.
What are the charges?
Johnathan Harrison, 46, from Cleckheaton who self-defines as white European, faces five counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and one count of child abduction.
The other three individuals all self-define as Asian Pakistani.
Mohammed Jahanghir Afsar, 54, from Heckmondwike, has been charged with four counts of rape.
Usman Nazir, 44, from Stoke-on-Trent, faces two counts of rape.
Naseem Risalat, 47, also from Heckmondwike, has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of aiding and abetting rape.
The charges follow an ongoing investigation by Kirklees Police into historical sexual abuse.
Police urge victims to come forward
A police spokesperson said: "We also continue to encourage anyone who may have been a victim of sexual assault, either recently or perhaps many years ago, to come forward and contact authorities.
"All reports made to West Yorkshire Police are investigated by specialist safeguarding officers who can also help put victims in contact with support services they may need."
The investigation is being carried out in partnership with the Crown Prosecution Service.
Further information and support for victims of sexual assault is available on the West Yorkshire Police website at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/WhenYouAreReady.
Enquiries remain ongoing.