Burnley man jailed in his absence for attempted rape of 11-year-old girl

A Burnley man has been jailed in his absence for the attempted rape of an 11-year-old girl.

Muhammad Zahid, 59, attempted to rape an 11-year-old girl in the town in 2021.

He only failed because the victim managed to kick him off her.

He was given a sentence at Burnley Crown Court totalling 10 and a half years. That consisted of nine years and six months custody and a further one year on extended licence after the trial Judge deemed Zahid to be a dangerous offender.

Despite forcing his victim to give evidence, Zahid went on the run halfway through the trial and is now wanted.

If you see Zahid call 999.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to email 536@lancashire.police.uk or call 101, quoting log 349 of 28th November 2022.

In an impact statement to the court, the victim’s mum said: “Before it came out, my daughter was quiet and withdrawn – both at home and at school.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.”

Zahid, from Burnley, denied a single count of attempted rape but was found guilty by a jury at Burnley Crown Court earlier this year. As well as being given the custodial sentence, he was made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

DC Hannah Brown, from Lancashire Police, said: “Zahid is a dangerous individual 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.”