In a significant development, a man has been found guilty of the non-recent rape of a child in Tower Hamlets. Jalal Hossain, also known as Abdul Sottar from Tower Hamlets, appeared before Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 6 October, where he was convicted of two counts of oral rape of a child under the age of 13.
During the trial, the court heard how Hossain had known the victim and had systematically groomed her through repeated visits to various locations in Tower Hamlets. The heinous acts took place in 2012 when Hossain sexually assaulted and raped the young girl on two separate occasions.
It was not until 2016 that the victim confided in a family member, who promptly reported the abuse to the police. The subsequent investigation was executed with utmost diligence, involving the collection of evidence and witness statements spanning over a decade.
Hossain had been wanted for several years but had managed to evade law enforcement by assuming a different identity. However, a breakthrough occurred when investigators successfully identified a phone number associated with him. This crucial lead allowed officers to launch a rapid manhunt that ultimately led to his arrest on Thursday, 23 March in Kensington.
During police interviews, Hossain refused to answer questions regarding the allegations and denied his true identity, as well as any knowledge of the victim. However, in 2023, both the victim and another witness positively identified Hossain during ID procedures, despite not having seen him for over a decade.
On Friday, 24 March, Hossain was charged while in police custody. Detective Constable Emma Price of the Metropolitan Police’s Central Specialist Crime team praised the victim’s bravery in providing evidence and testifying during the trial. She expressed hope that the conviction would offer the victim some comfort and a sense that justice had been served.
DC Price also emphasised the continued support for the victim and encouraged other survivors of sexual abuse to come forward, assuring them that the police are committed to fighting violence against women and girls and will assist them in accessing the support they rightfully deserve.
Jalal Hossain will be sentenced on Thursday, 7 December at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
