CHILD SEX OFFENDER FLEES TRIAL AND GOES ON THE RUN TO PAKISTAN
A convicted child sex offender named Hassan Mahmood, aged 23, fled the country during his trial, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest.The Manchester Evening News has confirmed that Mahmood escaped from Manchester Crown Court on the second day of his trial and flew from Manchester Airport to Doha, Qatar.
He is now believed to be in Pakistan, having been in his absence jailed by a court.
The case involved Mahmood being convicted last month by a jury of engaging in sexual activity with a child, causing a child to watch sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and sexual communication with a child.
The victim, a 13-year-old girl, had communicated with Mahmood online from January 2022, when he was 20, knowing her age.
The court heard that Mahmood exploited her willingness to communicate, sending graphic images, explicit videos, and engaging in FaceTime chats where he performed sex acts in view of the girl.
He met her in person three times, during which he persuaded her to perform sexual acts, kissed, and hugged her on other occasions.
Mahmood's obsession with the girl was revealed when he claimed to love her, and after his arrest, he sent a letter to her containing vile and abusive language, telling her to kill herself for 'snitching'.
Mahmood was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison in his absence.
Judge John Potter stated, 'It may well be that there will be other proceedings' against him for 'making himself absent,' noting there was 'no current knowledge' of his whereabouts or when he might return.
