A man from Birmingham who fled to Pakistan to evade justice after being convicted of kidnapping, robbery, and drug offenses is now behind bars and serving his sentence in the UK.
Hassan Rauf, 27, from Yardley, was sentenced to 11 years in March 2020 after being convicted in his absence for his role in a series of serious crimes. Along with two other men, Rauf was found guilty of kidnapping a college student, robbing him, and conspiring to commit burglary. He was also convicted of being involved in the supply of Class A drugs.
While his two co-defendants began serving their sentences, Rauf managed to flee to Pakistan, avoiding his court hearing. However, his evasion of justice came to an end when he was arrested after returning to the UK in August this year.
On October 10, Rauf appeared at Teesside Crown Court, where he was convicted of two Bail Act offenses for failing to attend court, resulting in a three-month extension to his original sentence. He will now serve a total of 11 years and three months in prison.
The charges stemmed from a May 2019 incident in which Rauf and his accomplices kidnapped a college student, took him to Rauf’s house, and burgled it before robbing him in a nearby park. In addition to his involvement in the kidnapping and robbery, Rauf was linked to drug-related offenses in Worcester.
Detective Sergeant Craig Tennant, from Force CID, commented on the case, saying, “Rauf attempted to evade justice by fleeing the country, but we were determined to ensure he faced the consequences for his actions. His return to custody and this sentence should send a clear message to anyone trying to escape justice: you won’t get away with it.”
This arrest and subsequent sentence highlight the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to track down fugitives and hold them accountable for their crimes, no matter where they try to hide.