Sharam Muhamadi was found guilty of two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view of exploitation but did not appear for the trial and has not been seen since
Police are searching for a convicted child sex trafficker last spotted in a UK city who disappeared after being granted bail.
Sharam Muhamadi was found guilty of two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view of exploitation today, Tuesday, June 9.
However, he was convicted in his absence after he failed to turn up at Sheffield Crown Court for his trial, which started on Monday, May 18.
The 21-year-old was held in custody between being charged and the start of the trial. But he vanished after a bail application put forward by his defence team was approved.
South Yorkshire Police said officers had been looking for him ever since but had been unable to appeal for the public’s assistance until the end of the trial due to reporting restrictions, reports Birmingham Live.
It said its officers were ‘actively conducting extensive enquiries’ to locate Muhamadi and had examined hours of CCTV footage and phone records.
His last known sighting was in Birmingham on Monday, May 18 – the date his trial commenced.
He was known to be in the city centre and then travelled to the Coventry Road and Small Heath Park area, but then the trail went cold.
South Yorkshire Police said: “Enquiries have established that Muhamadi has links to the West Midlands area, and we know he travelled to Birmingham New Street Station via train between Saturday 16 and Monday 18 May.
“Our officers rushed to the Birmingham area where, working alongside West Midlands Police, they have conducted extensive enquiries over multiple days – patrolling the streets, officers have shown his photo to members of the public.
“The last confirmed sighting of Muhamadi was at around 9pm on Monday 18 May in Birmingham city centre.
“He then travelled in a taxi from the centre towards Coventry Road and the Small Heath Park area, southeast of the city.
“We do not know where Muhamadi travelled from there, but we are determined to find him and are now appealing for the public’s help.”
Assistant Chief Constable Hayley Barnett said: “Our priority has been and will continue to be securing full justice for the victims tragically involved.
“They have shown commendable bravery throughout our full investigation and the complex trial which followed. We are wholly focussed on finding Muhamadi and ensuring his faces the consequences of his actions.
“Officers have been relentlessly pursing all lines of enquiries. We are keeping an open mind of his whereabouts.
“We believe he is still in the country, but if he is found abroad, we will seek the Government’s help in doing everything we can to extradite him.
“We will not stop until we find him, and we will ensure these young girls get the justice they deserve.”
Information can also be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers, either online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org or by phoning 0800 555 111.
