Shahid Hussain

Shahid Hussain, a 60-year-old man from Oxford, was sentenced to four years in prison at Cambridge Crown Court for historic sexual abuse committed against a young girl in Peterborough more than two decades ago.

The abuse began when the victim was just seven years old and continued between 2000 and 2002 at an address in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Hussain, who was in his thirties at the time, carried out four counts of indecent assault on the girl, who was under the age of 14. The victim, now in her thirties, bravely came forward to report the offences to the police after more than 25 years, providing a detailed account of the traumatic experiences that had haunted her for years.

Following the victim's report, officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary interviewed Hussain in April 2023. During the interview, he denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the allegations were fabricated 'to get at him'. Despite his denials, the case proceeded to trial at Cambridge Crown Court in November 2024, where a jury found him guilty on all four counts after hearing evidence from the victim and reviewing the investigation details.

On 27 March 2025, Hussain appeared for sentencing. The court imposed a four-year custodial sentence, and he was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register. DC Harley Smart, the investigating officer from Cambridgeshire Constabulary, commended the victim's courage in her statement: 'First and foremost, I want to recognise the victim’s incredible courage in coming forward after so many years. It takes immense strength to report childhood abuse, and her bravery has ensured Hussain has finally been held accountable for what he did.' DC Smart further noted that Hussain showed no remorse throughout the process but that the jury saw through his attempts to evade responsibility.

This case underscores the commitment of Cambridgeshire Constabulary to pursuing justice for survivors of sexual abuse, no matter how much time has passed. As DC Smart added: 'No matter how much time has passed, we will always listen, investigate thoroughly, and seek justice for survivors of sexual abuse.' The sentencing provides some measure of closure for the victim, who has demonstrated remarkable resilience in coming forward.