A sex offender who fled England before he was convicted of an attack on an 18-year-old girl is believed to be on the run in Ireland.
Mian Mujahid Ali Shahid, a 19-year-old Pakistani national, was last seen in Foynes, Co Limerick on August 11. Gardai are appealing for information on his whereabouts and want to speak to the driver of a car in which he was a passenger.
Shahid was convicted in his absence at Stafford crown court in the West Midlands on April 13 on two counts of sexual assault, after attacking an 18-year-old woman on a bus. Police in Britain subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest. A week later he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, also in his absence. He is now the subject of a European arrest warrant.
It is believed Shahid came to Ireland earlier this year, having initially fled to Scotland. Gardai said yesterday that they had carried out extensive enquiries but failed to locate him. “Our enquiries would indicate that he is still in this jurisdiction,” their statement said.
The gardai are liasing with Police Scotland and Staffordshire police. They have also appealed for Shahid to contact the Henry Street garda station. A spokesman for Staffordshire police said Shahid is a risk to women and should not be approached.