Man jailed for child sex offences goes on the run

Hilmi Kisacik was found guilty of three offences in his absence at Cambridge Crown Court

A convicted paedophile has gone on the run and failed to turn up for his sentencing, police have said.

Hilmi Kisacik was convicted of sexual offences after speaking with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl on Facebook Messenger in April.

The person was in fact a decoy from an online child activist group, which arrived at his home in Fore Hill, Ely, to confront him later that month.

The 44-year-old was convicted and sentenced in his absence at Cambridge Crown Court and officers have issued a warrant for his arrest.

Kisacik pleaded not guilty to the charges in May, but he failed to turn up to a preliminary hearing in August.

He was due to stand trial on Thursday, but was convicted in his absence of two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one count of attempting to cause or incite a girl to engage in sexual activity.

He was given a custodial sentence of two years and eight months on Friday.

PC Shane O’Brien said: "Although Kisacik didn’t speak to a real 14-year-old girl, the intent to incite a child to engage in sexually activity was still there.

"Protecting children from paedophiles is a force priority and I would urge anyone who knows of this man's whereabouts to contact police."