Reform’s Lee Anderson exposed rapist as a Pakistani asylum seeker after judge gagged press
In a shocking revelation, an MP has unveiled the hidden truth about an asylum seeker, sparking intense public debate and raising questions about justice.
Judge Nirmal Shant imposed a reporting restriction (Image: Notts Live)
An MP who unmasked an asylum seeker rapist on Monday insisted the public deserved the truth after his immigration status was hidden.
Pakistani national Sheraz Malik, 28, was found guilty of raping a “vulnerable” teenage girl whom he and a friend pounced on in a park in the constituency of Reform MP Lee Anderson.
Mr Anderson first exposed Malik as an asylum seeker last year after he was arrested for targeting the 18-year-old woman when she was alone in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
Judge imposed reporting restriction until end of trial
But a judge stopped the public from being told about the rapist’s asylum status by gagging the Press from reporting it until the end of his trial, it can now be revealed.
A jury on Monday convicted Malik of two counts of rape after just a few hours of deliberation at Birmingham Crown Court. The trial heard he took turns with his friend raping the teenager, before asking her: “Did you enjoy that?”
The distraught victim even begged a friend via text to “please help me” as she was preyed upon by the men, jurors were told.
Malik was living in taxpayer-funded accommodation at the time, having spent periods living in Italy, Germany, France and before arriving in the UK.
Mr Anderson claimed he had been asked not to publicise the case by police (Image: Getty)
Anderson accuses police and judiciary of reluctance
After the verdict, Mr Anderson said: “It’s obvious that the police and the whole judiciary were very reluctant to allow the public the true identity of this vile creature. The public deserves better which is why I exposed the truth.”
Malik’s alleged accomplice has been identified by police as an Afghan national who is believed to be abroad after going on the run. Police are looking for him.
In posts on X and Facebook last summer, Mr Anderson claimed he had been asked not to publicise the case by police for fear of jeopardising the prosecution.
He wrote: “Enough is enough… Why would it affect the trial… I will not shut up and do not care about the consequences.” The posts triggered an anti-immigrant protest in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
Trial moved to Birmingham amid publicity
Malik’s trial was later switched from Nottingham to Birmingham amid the increased publicity, reports the Daily Mail.
At a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court in September, Judge Nirmal Shant imposed a reporting restriction postponing publication of Malik’s immigration status until the end of the trial, to avoid a “substantial risk of prejudice to the administration of justice.”
During the eventual six-day trial, jurors heard the victim had been at Sutton Lawn park with a friend on June 29 last year, while the defendant and a group of men were playing cricket nearby.
Her friend left for a short period to meet another friend, and asked the men to keep an eye on her.
Malik’s trial was later switched from Nottingham to Birmingham amid the increased publicity. (Image: Reach PLC)
Rapist told housemates he was smuggled in car boot
But instead, one of the men led the woman to a secluded area and raped her. The court heard Malik, who told housemates he was smuggled into Britain in the boot of a car, then dragged her to a tree by her hair before carrying out his own sex attack.
In court Malik was asked why he took advantage of the victim, and replied: “What else was I supposed to do?”
Asked how he arrived in Europe, Malik protested that the question was not relevant – prompting Judge Simon Ash to intervene and side with the defendant.
Malik will be sentenced at a later date.
