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Rochdale grooming gang paedophile who groomed young girls to use as 'sex slaves' feared to have fled the UK
A Rochdale grooming gang paedophile who turned young girls into 'sex slaves' to be used and abused 'wherever, whenever' is feared to have fled the UK.
Kasir Bashir was one of seven men convicted of sexually exploiting two teenage girls in the town between 2001 and 2005.
The warped 50-year-old was part of a depraved gang of predators who preyed on vulnerable children from the age of 13 who had 'deeply troubled home lives'.
Former Rochdale market stall holder Bashir repeatedly raped and abused one teenager at a filthy flat in Oldham when he was in his mid-20s, a court heard.
The group would ply the youngsters with booze and drugs before molesting them on rancid mattresses or inside alleyways, cars, warehouses and car parks.
His sickening crimes were exposed following a major police operation to clampdown on the grooming gangs plaguing Rochdale.
However, on the eve of his criminal trial in January, the pervert vanished - despite having answered police bail weekly in the run up to his court appearance.
In his absence, the abuser was convicted by a jury of two counts of rape, as well as two counts of indecency with a child. However, he is still on the run.
Now it is feared Bashir may have fled the country, with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) launching an international manhunt to bring the sex fiend to justice.
It's understood the convicted paedophile was forced to surrender his passport as part of his bail conditions before his trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
If he has fled overseas, it's feared he may have done so illegally, either using forged documents or a people smuggling gang.
Paul Waugh, the MP for Rochdale, has now lashed out and is demanding urgent answers over how Bashir could have slipped through the authorities' grasp.
Speaking to Manchester Evening News, the Labour MP said: 'It is deeply alarming that this disgusting grooming gang member absconded on the eve of his trial.
'I have written to both the Ministry of Justice and GMP to ask exactly why a suspected child rapist like Bashir was not considered more of a flight risk or more of a danger to society.
'There are serious questions to answer about the assessment of his suitability for bail and why he was not remanded in custody. The fact that he is at large will rightly anger many of my constituents.'
He added: 'Ultimately, this is a matter for the crown court judge in this case. But I have asked the justice minister to check whether there can be a review of the bail decision by the Attorney General, given the natural public interest this involves.
'Just as importantly, I want to make sure no future grooming gang trial will see a repeat of this outrage, and that all those charged with such serious offences are remanded in custody.'
A spokesman for GMP said: 'We don't know where Bashir is, but we are determined to find him no matter where he thinks he can hide.'
Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock, senior investigation officer in the case, added: 'We will do all we can to find Bashir and ensure justice is fully served for them.
'Time was no barrier to bringing these groomers to justice, and Bashir evading the trial, will not stop us ensuring he now faces the full consequences of his actions.'
Three of Bashir's co-defendants - Mohammed Shahzad, Naheem Akram, and Nisar Hussain – were also out on bail when he went missing.
However, police remanded the them in custody after reportedly receiving intelligence they were planning to abscond.
The trio all deny the accusations, but Judge Jonathan Seely said the court was not prepared to take the risk that they may abscond.
Those with information about Bashir's whereabouts are urged to contact GMP, on 101, quoting Operation Lytton.
