BURNLEY MAN SENTENCED OVER ATTEMPTED RAPE OF GIRL, 12
A man who absconded partway through his trial has been given a 10-and-a-half-year sentence for attempting to rape a 12-year-old girl.Efforts have been made to identify the whereabouts of Muhammad Zahid, but these have proved unsuccessful.
Alison Mather, prosecuting at Burnley Crown Court, said Zahid, from Burnley, seemingly travelled to Pakistan and has not made attempts to re-enter the United Kingdom.
She said it is anticipated that Zahid, 59, remains at large in Pakistan, and an international arrest warrant is now in process.
The victim was 12 at the time when Zahid, formerly of Hebrew Road, attempted to rape her in his home.
She was 13 when she told trusted adults at her school about what happened, and the school’s safeguarding team subsequently reported it to the police.
The victim declined to make a personal statement as she did not wish to re-live the events, which happened in 2020.
Her mother said in a statement read to the court by Ms Mather: "It seemed she was worried and fearful over something but she would not tell us.
She was having nightmares, waking up at night." Judge Sara Dodd, sentencing, said she considered the victim having low cognitive ability, as shown through school assessments, as sufficient evidence that she was particularly vulnerable.
She added: “This is an attempt, but it’s one that came very close to succeeding.
You did not desist, rather, she managed to escape.” Zahid was given a total sentence of 10 years and six months, made up of a nine-year and six-month custodial term and a further year's extended licence period.
He must serve a minimum of two-thirds of the custodial term before being considered for release by the parole board.
The sentence will be activated upon his appearance at a Crown Court for the execution of his arrest warrant.
