Update: Missing sex offender Hanif Alam who breached the conditions of his release from prison has been found in Burnley after a police search

February 2015

Lancashire Police hunt missing sex offender Hanif Alam

Police are trying to trace a missing sex offender who has breached the conditions of his release from prison.

Hanif Alam was jailed for 21 months and ordered to sign the sex offenders register after he was convicted of sexual assault in November 2008.

He sexually molested a terrified schoolgirl on a bus

The 31-year-old is subject to regular monitoring and checks, but failed to attend an appointment.

Alam was living in Burnley, Lancashire, and also has links to Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.

Det Con Tim Aspinall, of Lancashire Constabulary, said: “If anyone has seen Alam or has any information about where he might be I would urge them to contact us.

“I would also urge Alam himself, if he sees this appeal, to hand himself in to the police.”

November 2008

Jail for bus sex attack man

A bus passenger who sexually molested a terrified 15-year-old girl has been sent to prison.

Hanif Alam’s victim has been left traumatised by her ordeal and is seeking counselling, Preston Crown Court was told.

She is suffering from flashbacks and has had difficulty sleeping, Judge Stuart Baker was told.

Zoe Neild, prosecuting, said the girl was on an early evening double-decker bus travelling from Walmer Bridge to Preston in April.

When alone on the top deck, the defendant approached her, tried to kiss the girl and started to touch and molest her.

She managed to get off the bus and immediately contacted her mother.

By the time the girl got home, she was said to be in an hysterical state.

Alam, a 25-year-old from Small Heath in Birmingham who was visiting the Lancashire area, denied a charge of sexual assault.

He told the jury that the girl had lied and nothing had happened on the bus.

Alam was convicted by the jury at the end of a four day trial earlier this month and was returning to be sentenced.

The court heard he had a previous conviction involving an indecent assault.

In a victim personal statement, the girl said she remained frightened about going alone onto buses after what happened.

Jailing Alam for 21 months, Judge Baker told him his victim’s distress had been made worse by his claim that she had been lying.

“Being assaulted as she was on the top deck of a bus is bad enough but to be called a liar just adds to everything,” the judge told him.

As well as the jail sentence, Alam was informed that his name will be on the sex offenders register for the next 10 years.