COURTS FAIL TO STOP CHILD RAPIST FLEEING UK FOR OVER A DECADE
The individual responsible for attacking a young girl behind an abandoned church and mocking her after she refused to sell drugs for him has received a custodial sentence.Arif Choudhury, aged 28, committed the assault when he was approximately 15 or 16 years old, more than ten years ago.
He later fled to Bangladesh but was apprehended in June of the previous year upon his return to the UK.
Choudhury’s trial was set to go ahead alongside nine other defendants in 2015 for offenses linked to an underground parking area of a former police station.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed that twelve men involved in the case received sentences totaling over 140 years in prison.
During the court proceedings at Bradford Crown Court, Choudhury’s defense lawyer, Craig Hassall KC, claimed that his client had been exploited by older criminals.
The court was informed that Choudhury is currently battling paranoid schizophrenia and had recently been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
He was found guilty of one count of rape and twelve counts of aiding and abetting in rape.
The young girl, who was only 13 at the time, was targeted, raped, and then handed over to others for further humiliating acts, enduring a harrowing experience that left her feeling worthless.
She continues to suffer from nightmares and flashbacks.
Choudhury received an eight-year prison sentence, was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, and must adhere to a 15-year sexual harm prevention order.
The judge commended the police and staff for their diligent work and highlighted the case’s difficulty, expressing optimism that the sentence would support the victim’s healing process.
