A READING man has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for rape, despite being missing, following a Thames Valley Police investigation.
Abdul Khan, aged 39 and of Chatham Place, Reading, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday, July 26, where he was tried in his absence.
While he failed to appear in court, a jury found him unanimously guilty of one count of rape.
It follows an incident in 2010, during which Khan raped a teenage girl in Reading.
The incident was reported in 2019, and Khan was charged in 2021, with a trial set for December last year.
Khan was in Pakistan at the time, however, and failed to appear in court, and Thames Valley Police has now begun proceedings to extradite Khan back to the UK following the verdict.
In an extended statement, officer in the case Detective Constable Nicole Jury of Reading CID said: “I am delighted that Abdul Khan has finally been brought to justice for raping a teenage girl in Reading in 2010.
“The victim reported the offence to Thames Valley Police in 2019 and following an investigation by the force, Khan was charged in 2021.”
She explained: “The trial was due to go ahead in December 2022, however Khan was not in the country and so the trial was rearranged for July this year when Khan failed to attend court because he was in Pakistan.
“I am grateful that the judge decided to hold the trial in Khan’s absence, and after deliberation the jury found him unanimously guilty.”
She said that Thames Valley Police was in the “early stages” of the extradition process, and “are currently liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service.
“However, if anyone has information as to Khan’s whereabouts they can contact the force via our website or 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
“I would like to thank the victim who has shown courage and resilience to continue to support the prosecution, despite the delays caused by Khan.”
She concluded: “This case demonstrates that Thames Valley Police is relentless in its pursuit and disruption of perpetrators of violence against women and girls.
“I would encourage anyone who is a victim of crime, or anyone who knows someone who is a victim of crime to contact the police.
“We will listen and support you.”
