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Sharam Muhamadi, aged 21, was today (Tuesday 9 June) found guilty today of two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view of exploitation.
He was convicted in his absence after failing to appear at Sheffield Crown Court from Monday 18 May.
Muhamadi had been remanded in custody between charge and the beginning of the trial, when his defence team’s application for bail was granted by the court.
Upon his failure to appear, South Yorkshire Police immediately began a manhunt but, due to the court’s reporting restriction, we have been unable to publicly appeal for help until today.
Officers are actively conducting extensive enquiries to find Muhamadi and have trawled through hours of CCTV, and phone records. These are just a couple of examples of the extensive work our officers have been completing.
These enquiries have established that Muhamadi has links to the West Midlands area, and we know he travelled to Birmingham via train between Saturday 16 and Monday 18 May. Our officers rushed to the Birmingham area where, working alongside West Midlands Police, they have conducted extensive enquiries over multiple days – patrolling the streets, officers have shown his photo to members of the public.
The last confirmed sighting of Muhamadi was at around 9pm on Monday 18 May in Birmingham city centre. He then travelled in a taxi from the centre towards Coventry Road and the Small Heath Park area, southeast of the city. We do not know where Muhamadi travelled from there, but we are determined to find him and are now appealing for the public’s help.
Assistant Chief Constable Hayley Barnett said:
“Our priority has been and will continue to be securing full justice for the victims tragically involved. They have shown commendable bravery throughout our full investigation and the complex trial which followed.
“We are wholly focussed on finding Muhamadi and ensuring his faces the consequences of his actions.
“Officers have been relentlessly pursing all lines of enquiries. We are keeping an open mind of his whereabouts. We believe he is still in the country, but if he is found abroad, we will seek the Government’s help in doing everything we can to extradite him.
“We will not stop until we find him, and we will ensure these young girls get the justice they deserve.”