Burnley man given prison sentence in absence, after going on the run during trial
A warrant for Muhammad Zahid's arrest has been issued
A Burnley man who attempted to rape an 11-year-old girl has been sentenced in his absence for 10 and a half years after fleeing during his trial.
Muhammad Zahid, 59, attacked his young victim in 2021 but failed when the girl managed to kick him off her.
Despite forcing his victim to give evidence, Zahid went on the run halfway through the trial at Burnley Crown Court and is now wanted on a Bench Warrant.
On Tuesday 7th October, Zahid was sentenced to nine years and six months in custody with a further year on extended licence after being deemed a dangerous offender by the trial judge.
The court also made Zahid subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
He had denied a single count of attempted rape but was found guilty by a jury earlier this year.
‘She’s managed to move on with her life and she’s happy’
In a powerful victim impact statement, the girl’s mother told the court:
“Before it came out, my daughter was quiet and withdrawn – both at home and at school. She would stay in her room which she didn’t normally do. She then told the school, but she was fearful still. She was having nightmares and waking up at night. For this reason, she started sleeping with me.
“After disclosing it, it seemed like it had hit her again and she became further distressed. During the process of the investigation and having to talk about it, the incident became fresh for her and that caused her distress.
“Now that she’s got justice, she’s managed to move on with her life and she’s happy.”
Police appeal for information
Detective Constable Hannah Brown from Lancashire Police said:
“Zahid is a dangerous individual who saw an opportunity to rape a child and attempted to take it. It was only because of her bravery that he was unsuccessful in his sordid behaviour.
“I want to take this opportunity to praise the victim for the bravery she has shown, first in reporting what had happened to her and then giving evidence in court.
“Despite his denials, Zahid knew exactly what he had done and the conclusion the jury would come to. I am convinced that’s why he took the cowardly choice of not staying around to face justice and instead chose to go on the run. He should know that Lancashire Police will never stop looking for him and I would ask anyone with information on his whereabouts tells the authorities, so he can face justice for what he did to his child victim.”
Anyone who sees Zahid is urged to call 999 immediately. Information about his whereabouts can be emailed to [email protected] or reported via 101, quoting log 349 of 28th November 2022.