Child sex offences: Police charge 42 after inquiry spanning 20 years

Police have charged 39 men and three women following a major investigation into child sex offences spanning 20 years.

West Yorkshire Police said those arrested were mainly from the Kirklees area and have been charged with various offences dating between 1995 and 2015.

The force said the charges include alleged offences committed against six girls aged under 16 at the time, largely in the Dewsbury and Batley areas.

Those charged, who are aged between 69 and 40, will appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

All but one of the men face at least one charge of rape.

The women face charges relating to prostitution.