Child sex offender who fled abroad jailed

Shahid Hussain has been jailed for eight years and will face deportation following his release from prison

A man who fled the UK after being charged with indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl more than two decades ago has been jailed.

Shahid Hussain left the country in 2018 but was arrested in Bulgaria in 2023 and extradited back to the UK.

The 49-year-old Pakistani national stood trial at Sheffield Crown Court in July where a jury found him guilty of forcing a child to perform a sex act in Rotherham in 2003.

Hussain, of Ferrars Road in Sheffield, was jailed for eight years on Tuesday and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

During Tuesday's hearing, he was told he would also face deportation when he had served his sentence and would be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), the victim told investigators Hussain began spending time with her, a friend and a second man known to her friend at a local shopping centre when she was 14.

'Horrendous assault'

Hussain, who the victim knew by the name of “Shammy”, had groomed her by giving her gifts, alcohol and lifts in his car before he forced her to perform a sex act.

Hussain was charged with the attack in July 2018 as part of the NCA's Operation Stovewood.

The investigation was set up after the Jay Report found at least 1,400 girls were abused, trafficked and groomed by gangs of men in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

Despite the charge, Hussain left the country in a bid to evade justice.

He was caught by Bulgarian police officers on 26 November 2023 as he tried to enter the country from Turkey, at the Kapitan Andreevo border post, and extradited back to the UK.

Martin McRobb, specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Shahid Hussain targeted a child and subjected her to a horrendous sexual assault.

“I hope his conviction and sentence sends a clear message: sex offenders who flee abroad will not escape justice."

NCA senior investigating officer Stuart Cobb said: “I’m pleased that Hussain has finally faced justice for the crime he committed 21 years ago.

“I commend the victim for her courage, strength and perseverance throughout the prosecution, which was made more protracted by Hussain when he absconded for five years.”

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