ZAHIR HUSSAIN FROM MATLOCK JAILED FOR TEN YEARS AFTER EVADING POLICE FOR FIVE YEARS

In October 2017, a serious case unfolded involving Zahir Hussain, a man with a troubling history linked to sex offences, who was ultimately sentenced to a decade behind bars for his failure to comply with legal obligations and for managing a business in Matlock while evading law enforcement for an extended period.

Hussain, aged 39, had been the subject of a police manhunt for nearly five years after he disappeared from two addresses he had previously claimed as his residence. The authorities had been actively seeking him, especially after he failed to update his whereabouts as required by law. It was only when Derbyshire police apprehended him earlier this year, during an unrelated investigation, that they uncovered his true identity and his connection to a sex offence.

The court heard that Hussain had previously been convicted of a sex offence involving a child in Birmingham in 2010. As part of his sentence, he was mandated to register his address with the police and inform them of any changes. However, in 2012, Hussain provided police with two addresses: one at his family home on Carlton Avenue, Handsworth, Birmingham, and another above a restaurant in Chelmsford, Essex, where he claimed to be working at the time.

Despite this, he was not at either location, and the owner of the Essex property confirmed that Hussain had not been seen there for four months. His details were circulated as a wanted person, and it was only on September 17 of this year that authorities managed to locate him in the Matlock area. Upon arrest, Hussain admitted to police that he had been living in Matlock for the past two years but failed to explain why he did not notify authorities of his change of address.

During the court proceedings, Julia King, prosecuting, emphasized the importance of the notification requirements, stating that they are designed to enable police to monitor sex offenders for public safety. She highlighted that Hussain's non-compliance and prolonged absence from his registered addresses justified the severe sentence.

Hussain's legal representative, Lauren Fisher, revealed that he had been working as the manager of the Moja Indian Restaurant on Dale Road in Matlock for over two years and resided above the establishment. She also mentioned that Hussain was a father to a seven-month-old child, whom he visited two to three times weekly. Fisher appealed for leniency, noting that the restaurant owner was willing to keep Hussain’s job and accommodation open if he was not immediately jailed.

Judge Jonathan Bennett sentenced Hussain to ten years in prison, underscoring the gravity of his failure to adhere to the legal requirements and the potential risk posed by his actions. The judge reiterated that the purpose of the notification system is to protect the public and that Hussain’s long period of non-compliance warranted a custodial sentence. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of law enforcement in monitoring convicted sex offenders and the consequences of neglecting these legal obligations.