Jibrhan Khan 41

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A serial child abuser who fled the country while he was on trial is now beginning a prison sentence.

Jibrhan Khan’s four young victims, who must not be identified for legal reasons, were denied justice back in February 2023 when the drug-user went on the run after his trial had started at Bradford Crown Court.

His barrister Jeremy Hill-Baker told a judge on Thursday that at the time Khan was living in shared accommodation and had been attacked by other residents after they “got wind” of his alleged offending. Mr Hill-Baker said: “Someone lent him some money and he got a flight to Pakistan. At the time he had a significant drug addiction to both heroin and crack cocaine.”

Mr Hill-Baker said his client spent five months in hospital getting psychiatric help and after getting off drugs he started to reflect on his previous conduct.

“He had begun to pray in earnest and made the decision himself, knowing that in respect of all but one of the counts the jury had failed to agree, to come home and to face the music and sort out what he had done,” said Mr Hill-Baker.

Khan, 41, flew back to this country last September and was arrested on the bench warrant and put before the court.

The court heard that Khan had been convicted in his absence by the jury of one sexual offence, but in January this year he pleaded guilty to seven other similar allegations. The non-recent abuse involving the four girls ended in 2014 and included offences of indecent assault, sexual assault and sexual assault of a girl under 13.

One of his victims described in a statement how the abuse left her with feelings of anxiety and self-loathing and she felt guilty about not disclosing the abuse sooner.

Mr Hill-Baker said Khan, formerly of Mannville Terrace, Great Horton, Bradford, wanted to give the victims justice because he knew that they felt thwarted when he fled his trial. The barrister said: “He does not instruct me to seek to excuse his behaviour and gives all the outward impression of being deeply remorseful, wanting to face the inevitable punishment and be at peace himself with what he has done and for his victims to have closure."

Jailing Khan for 12-and-a-half years, Deputy Circuit Judge Timothy Clayson said his offending had been extensive and an extended sentence as a “dangerous offender” was clearly justified. The judge imposed an extended licence period of three years on top of the defendant’s jail term.

Khan will now have to serve at least two-thirds of his 12-and-a-half year sentence before being considered for release by the Parole Board. He will also have to register as a sex offender for life with the police and must comply with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Clayson also imposed an indefinite restraining order which bans the defendant from contacting any of the complainants.