A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a convicted sex offender who is believed to be in Pakistan.

Mohammed Malik, 41, failed to turn up for his trial at Bradford Crown Court this week and yesterday a jury found him guilty in his absence of three offences of sexual activity with a child.

The offences related to sexual offending against a 14-year-old Huddersfield girl who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

During the trial the jury were not told that Malik, of Rashcliffe Hill Road, Rashcliffe Hill, near Lockwood, was believed to be out of the country and yesterday his barrister Ian Brook suggested that Judge Jonathan Rose could sentence his client in his absence.

But Judge Rose said he would only pass sentence after Malik had been arrested and was in the dock.

“If he chooses not to return to this country that is the nature of things,” said Judge Rose.

Judge Rose described the offences as being “of a particularly disgraceful kind” and he said Malik had not had the courage to face his trial.

“I will not be sentencing this man until he is in the dock,” he said.

“He is now a sex offender and has to register as one as soon as he can be apprehended.

“Sentence is adjourned until such time as he is arrested on the warrant that has already been issued as I understand it.”