ARSHID HUSSAIN ROTHERHAM CHILD ABUSER ESCAPES ARREST IN 2000 INCIDENT DESPITE PAST CONVICTIONS

In June 2022, South Yorkshire Police faced serious criticism for their handling of a disturbing incident involving Arshid Hussain, a notorious child abuser from Rotherham. The police reportedly offered Hussain a 'no arrest' deal after he abducted a pregnant 14-year-old girl, a decision that has since been scrutinized amid ongoing investigations into police misconduct related to the Rotherham child abuse scandal.

Investigations into the police response concluded that South Yorkshire Police did not act appropriately in this case, with a formal complaint from the victim upheld. This incident, which occurred in 2000, highlights the failures of law enforcement at the time to adequately address the allegations against Hussain, who was already known for his criminal activities.

Arshid Hussain, a figure infamously linked to a child grooming gang in Rotherham, was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2016 after being convicted of 23 separate offences involving nine young girls. His criminal history and leadership role in the grooming network have made him one of the most notorious offenders in the region. Despite his lengthy incarceration, the 2000 incident involving the abduction of a young girl remains a dark chapter, with reports indicating that police chose to avoid arresting him at that time.

Further complicating the case, a 2013 investigation by South Yorkshire Police found no evidence to support claims of a 'deal' with Hussain, a conclusion that was later challenged by the victim’s account and subsequent inquiries. The victim, who was only 14 at the time, had reported the abduction and abuse but was allegedly intimidated into dropping her case. It was only in 2013, when she learned of the ongoing investigations into historic child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, that she re-engaged with authorities and reported her experiences involving Hussain.

In November 2017, Hussain was found guilty of additional serious offences, including indecent assault on a 13-year-old girl. The assault took place between January and March 2003 in Rotherham when Hussain was 27 years old. The trial at Sheffield Crown Court revealed harrowing details of the abuse, with the victim, now 28, testifying that she was coerced into performing oral sex on Hussain in his red Subaru near a loading bay close to an alleyway next to Boots in Rotherham town centre.

Prosecutor Peter Hampton described how the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was introduced to Hussain through his cousin Sageer Hussain. The court heard that Sageer played a central role in grooming her, encouraging her to meet older men, including Hussain and his brother Basharat Hussain. The grooming involved threats and manipulation, with Sageer allegedly establishing a pattern of abuse by encouraging his friends and family to have sex with her, and even raping her himself. The victim was reportedly naive and believed that maintaining her friendships was important, especially since she was given cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis by her abusers.

Additional incidents included pressure on the girl to perform oral sex on Basharat Hussain in his sky blue Subaru. The court also convicted Sageer Hussain, Basharat Hussain, and their cousin Asif Ali, along with five other men, of sexually exploiting the girl in a separate trial last year.

The victim first approached police in 2003, but her case was dropped due to intimidation. It was only in 2013 that she returned to authorities, motivated by the ongoing investigation into historic child exploitation in Rotherham. Her reports led to Hussain’s arrest and subsequent conviction in February of the following year, when he was sentenced to 35 years after being found guilty of 23 offences against nine victims. Hussain has consistently denied all charges, but the court’s verdict confirmed his extensive criminal conduct and leadership role in the abuse network in Rotherham.