East Bowling businessman who went on run over sex assaults is sentenced

Mohammed Nawaz, 57, disappeared in the middle of his trial at the city’s Crown Court in October. He was subsequently convicted of four counts of rape and five indecent assaults committed on two girls.

Mr Justice Treacy, sitting at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, said Nawaz had shown a “total absence of shame, of recognition of what he has done and of remorse” and was probably now hiding in Pakistan.

He handed down a sentence of 16 years’ jail plus another five years’ extension, subject to licence, because of the seriousness of Nawaz’s offending.

During his trial, the shamed businessman even got his children to lie on his behalf to fabricate a defence, the judge said.

Nawaz, of Flockton Road, East Bowling, repeatedly preyed on one girl at the flat he owned above his fast food business in Stanningley, Leeds.

The judge said: “These acts occurred on dozens and dozens of occasions, probably running into three figures.”

He would use bribes and slaps to coerce the child, and would sit in his car waiting for her to pass him in the street.

“This shows a degree of predatory ruthlessness towards an underage girl,” the judge said.

The rapist even made his victim believe she was to blame and there has been lasting damage caused to her, the court heard.

Nawaz was held in high esteem in his community, the court heard, having lived in the UK for 40 years.

The judge made a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which bans Nawaz from contacting either victim and having unsupervised contact with any girl under 16.

After the case Detective Inspector Mark Gaunt said: “While we are delighted with the sentence passed down today, our efforts have been and will continue to be concentrated on bringing Nawaz into custody.

“The victims of these horrendous offences are fully updated with the situation by their liaison officer and are satisfied with the sentence and feel that justice has been done.”