Mezbaha Uddin

A fugitive paedophile, Mezbaha Uddin, aged 39, was apprehended by police in Dover after being discovered hiding in a lorry bound for France. Uddin had been under investigation by Nottinghamshire Police for a series of child sex offences committed between September 2018 and July 2020. Following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court, a jury convicted him on 16 counts, comprising 10 charges of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and six counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The case originated from an allegation in July 2019 regarding sexual communication with a child in Nottinghamshire. Investigations revealed that Uddin had interacted with a decoy account operated by an online child activist group. He sent indecent images of himself and arranged to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl in Mansfield. Upon alerting authorities, police arrested Uddin and seized his mobile phone, uncovering messages from a chatroom website where he had attempted sexual communications with more than a dozen underage girls. In some instances, he planned in-person meetings, while on other occasions, he encouraged the girls to perform sexual activities for him to observe.

Detective Constable Stuart Dolby from Nottinghamshire Police's public protection team commented on the convictions, stating: 'This was a complex and thorough investigation which included disturbing evidence for our officers to deal with. I am pleased with the verdicts and I hope they send a clear message that Nottinghamshire Police will do what it necessary to tackle these crimes and to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities.' He emphasised the seriousness of child sex offences and the force's commitment to safeguarding children through various tactics to apprehend offenders.

Uddin is scheduled to be sentenced on 22 October 2021, with expectations of a lengthy custodial sentence. The arrest in Dover prevented his escape abroad, ensuring he faces justice for his predatory actions against children. This case highlights the role of online activist groups in exposing potential offenders and the diligent work of law enforcement in pursuing such investigations.