Rapist sent back to
Bradford from Hungry
to face justice

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BRADFORD: A ‘dangerous’ rapist has been sent back to Bradford to face justice after fleeing the country to Hungary and Romania. Saqib Salam, 33, of Balme Street in Bradford, faced two charges of rape and one count of perverting the course of justice. But just days before his trial was due to start, he fled the country while on bail for the offences.

The West Yorkshire Police has reported that a rapist who absconded while on bail and was convicted in his absence has been returned to West Yorkshire after being detained in Hungary.

Saqib Salam

Saqib Salam was convicted of two count of rape and one count of perverting the course of justice at Bradford Crown Court on 8th September. He was sentenced to nine years in prison in his absence. The rapes happened at an address in Bradford on 15th July 2018.

Days before his trial was due to start, Salam, aged 33, of Balme Street, Bradford, fled the country while on bail for the offences.

A trial was held in his absence and he was convicted of both counts of rape as well as perverting the course of justice, an offence which related to the attempted deletion of CCTV footage.

Officers used specialised software to recover the CCTV footage which showed Salam using force to push his victim into a room where he raped her.

Salam was detained by Hungarian border authorities as he attempted to enter Romania with a false passport at the same time as his trial was taking place.

West Yorkshire Police liaised with overseas authorities to arrange for his return to the United Kingdom to serve his sentence. Detectives from the force collected him from Heathrow Airport on Friday before bringing him back to West Yorkshire.

DC Nick Ramsden of Bradford CID who, oversaw the case, said: “Salam is a dangerous individual who preyed on his victim’s vulnerability. He twice tried to avoid justice – by attempting to delete video evidence of his actions, and by leaving the country before his trial.”

“He has received the sentence he deserves and that has to be welcomed.”

“I am also grateful to the Romanian and Hungarian authorities for fact that he has been detained while attempting to evade the justice he deserves for carrying out these offences.”

The trial was held in his absence and he was convicted of both counts of rape, as well as perverting the course of justice, at Bradford Crown Court on September 8.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Salam’s perverting the course of justice conviction related to CCTV footage that showed the 33-year-old using force to push his victim into a room where he raped her.

Officers used specialised software to recover the camera footage, which Salam had attempted to delete.

The 33-year-old was arrested by Hungarian border authorities, as his trial was taking place in Bradford. Salam was attemping to enter Romania with a false passport.

West Yorkshire Police liaised with overseas authorities to arrange for his return to the United Kingdom to serve his sentence.

Detectives from the force collected him from Heathrow Airport last Friday, before bringing him back to West Yorkshire.

DC Nick Ramsden of Bradford CID who, oversaw the case, said: “Salam is a dangerous individual who preyed on his victim’s vulnerability. He twice tried to avoid justice – by attempting to delete video evidence of his actions, and by leaving the country before his trial.

“He has received the sentence he deserves and that has to be welcomed. I am also grateful to the Romanian and Hungarian authorities for fact that he has been detained while attempting to evade the justice he deserves for carrying out these offences.”