One of the men convicted in a Rotherham child grooming and trafficking case is believed to have absconded to Pakistan, with the National Crime Agency (NCA) confirming that Kamir Ifzal Khan, 37, flew to Qatar on 22 September and is suspected to have travelled onward from there. A second convicted man, Mudasar Hussain, also 37, is believed to have fled the country illegally despite having been compelled to surrender his passport as a bail condition.

The Convictions

Khan, Mudasar Hussain, and Mudasar's brother Ghazanfar Hussain, 42, were all found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday. Mudasar Hussain was convicted of 12 counts of rape, Khan of two counts of rape and one count of sexual exploitation, and Ghazanfar Hussain of one count of rape. The victim was aged 13 and 14 when she was groomed and sexually abused between 2008 and 2010.

How the Abuse Unfolded

According to the NCA, Khan began abusing the girl after she started visiting a takeaway where he worked, initially giving her food, money, and cigarettes and taking her along on deliveries. He subsequently took her to a house on multiple occasions and pressured her to have sex with other men present — which she consistently refused. On one occasion, he took her to a separate address and left her alone with another man, who raped her. The victim was first abused by Mudasar Hussain, and then separately by Ghazanfar Hussain and Khan.

Operation Stovewood and the Wider Scandal

The three men were prosecuted as part of Operation Stovewood, established in 2014 in response to the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal. The operation has to date identified and supported around 1,150 potential victims and secured 60 convictions against 55 people. The Rotherham scandal, which came to wider public attention roughly 20 years ago, exposed the systematic grooming and trafficking of hundreds of children in the South Yorkshire town over multiple decades.

The Search for the Fugitives

Sentencing for all three had been scheduled at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, but the absence of two of the convicted men has complicated proceedings. The NCA has appealed to the public for help in locating both Khan and Mudasar Hussain. While Khan is believed to be in Pakistan, the NCA noted that Hussain could still be within the United Kingdom, though he may have crossed the border illegally. Both had been on conditional bail ahead of trial.

What Happens Next

Authorities are coordinating efforts to locate the two absconders, with international channels likely to be engaged given Khan's suspected departure to Pakistan via Qatar. The case has renewed scrutiny of bail conditions applied to defendants in serious sexual offence cases, particularly those with potential international travel links. Ghazanfar Hussain, who was present, is expected to face sentencing in due course. The NCA's continued work under Operation Stovewood signals that further prosecutions from the Rotherham scandal remain active.