A child rapist who is now thought to be on the run in Pakistan was handed back his passport during his trial, it has been revealed.

Businessman Mohammed Nawaz, 57, who was on bail, disappeared during his trial at Bradford Crown Court in October.

He was convicted, in his absence, of four charges of rape and five indecent assaults on two girls.

He was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment, with a further five-year extended licence, due to the seriousness of the offending.

One girl, aged 13, was raped and sexually abused more than 100 times.

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

He even got his children to lie for him at his trial to fabricate a defence.

Nawaz is thought to have flown to Pakistan from the UK, via Dubai, in a bid to escape justice.

The Crown Prosecution Service has revealed that he had his passport returned to him by his defence lawyers during his trial.

Sally Sharp, of the CPS West Yorkshire Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: “On the first day of the trial, the defendant’s solicitor returned his client’s passport as they had used it to check some facts in relation to an alleged alibi.

“The passport was never in the possession of West Yorkshire Police, and there was no reason for the CPS to take any part in the decision to take possession of his passport.

“It was only ever the defence team who had his passport.

“Throughout the course of the long investigation Nawaz answered bail at the police station every time as required.

“He attended court on unconditional bail.

“The only condition that was ever attached to his bail was that he should not contact the prosecution witnesses.

“In the circumstances, there would never have been any justification for his passport to be taken from him.”

Detective Inspector Mark Gaunt, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Our efforts will continue to be concentrated on bringing Nawaz into custody.”