SHAHID HUSSAIN FLEEING ROTHERHAM SEX OFFENDER CAUGHT IN BULGARIA AND EXTRADITED BACK TO THE UK
A man convicted of a serious sexual offence, Shahid Hussain, who had been on the run for five years after being charged with indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl, has finally been brought to justice.Hussain, originally from Rotherham, managed to evade law enforcement authorities after the crime was committed in 2003, fleeing the country in 2018 to avoid prosecution.
His escape ended in 2023 when he was located and arrested in Bulgaria.
Following his apprehension, Hussain was extradited back to the United Kingdom to face trial for his actions.
The case was heard at Sheffield Crown Court, where the 48-year-old was found guilty of the indecent assault.
The court's verdict was based on evidence that Hussain had forced his young victim to perform a sexual act during the year 2003, a crime that had remained unresolved for nearly two decades.
Hussain, who was once a resident of Rotherham, has been remanded into custody.
His sentencing is scheduled for 16 August, and he will remain in detention until then.
The lengthy delay in bringing him to justice was partly due to his flight abroad, which complicated efforts to prosecute him.
His case was part of a broader investigation known as Operation Stovewood, conducted by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
This operation was a comprehensive inquiry into non-familial child sexual abuse and exploitation that took place in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
The investigation uncovered numerous cases of abuse, highlighting the extent of the problem in the area.
Stuart Cobb, the Senior Investigating Officer for the NCA, expressed his condemnation of Hussain’s actions, describing the attack as “vile” and emphasizing the vulnerability of the young girl involved.
Cobb stated, “Hussain carried out a vile attack on a vulnerable young girl and when he knew he was going to be held to account, he took the coward’s route by going on the run.
We have always been determined to put Hussain before the courts.
Finally, 21 years after carrying out his crime, he has faced justice.” Martin McRobb, a Specialist Prosecutor representing the Crown Prosecution Service, highlighted the severity of Hussain’s crime, noting that he had targeted a child and subjected her to a “horrendous sexual assault.” McRobb also condemned Hussain’s attempt to evade justice by fleeing abroad, stating, “I hope this conviction sends a clear message: sex offenders who flee abroad will not escape justice.
We will continue to work collaboratively with international partners to ensure perpetrators are returned to face the full force of the law.”
