Sex offender Baktear Ahmad broke law to flee Gillingham home for visit to sick mum
Published: 00:01, 25 March 2014
A convicted sex offender who fled his Gillingham home to visit his sick mum in Iran has been jailed for 14 months.
Baktear Ahmad was obliged by law to notify police of any changes to his address and any foreign travel plans after he was found guilty of two offences of sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl in 2012.
But Maidstone Crown Court heard the 31-year-old left his flat in Manor Street in April last year to be with his mother while she underwent back surgery.
He did not return to the UK until September, where he was arrested by police at Heathrow Airport.
Ahmad had been given a 12-month jail term suspended for two years by Worcester Crown Court in December 2012.
His sentence also included supervision by the probation service for two years, 100 hours unpaid work and a curfew.
As a registered sex offender Ahmad, who was also subject to a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, had to automatically inform police if he changed address or planned to travel abroad.
He was also subject to unannounced visits by police to his home.
Prosecutor Trevor Wright told the court on Monday that several unsuccessful attempts to see him were made between May 30 and June 10.
On the last of those attempts, officers gained access to the communal area of the flats, which were owned by Orbit Housing, and saw a 'Notice to Quit' stuck on the front door of Ahmad's flat.
The court was told that Orbit later confirmed Ahmad had left the property on April 22.
Mr Wright said Ahmad was informed following his conviction of his legal obligations as a registered sex offender.
Despite not being able to read or write either English or Kurdish, he told police he was aware of the requirements and that he had a friend who could speak English for him.
"One of the notification requirements of which he was aware as a registered sex offender was that he had to notify any intention of foreign travel within seven days of that intended period of travel," explained Mr Wright.
"He failed to notify police of any details."
Ahmad admitted breach of his suspended sentence, in that he did not keep supervision appointments with probation, and failing to comply with notification requrements.
Judge David Griffith-Jones QC imposed a total of 14 months in jail for what he described as "flagrant" breaches.
However, as Ahmad has served six months in custody on remand since his arrest last year, it is likely he will stay behind bars for just one more month.
He was told the notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act, as well as the SOPO, remain in force.
"For that misunderstanding he asks me to put forward his remorse and apologies to the court" - Craig Evans, defending
Craig Evans, defending, said a "misunderstanding" was the root cause of Ahmad's behaviour.
He told the court that Ahmad, who came to the UK from Iraq about 12 years ago and has indefinite leave to remain, was "erroneously under the presumption" that once he had completed the 100 hours unpaid work, other requirements of the sentence also came to an end.
"For that misunderstanding he asks me to put forward his remorse and apologies to the court," said Mr Evans.
"He was also under the impression, wrongly, that once he had completed the unpaid work requirement, the notification requirements dissipated as well."