Girl-rape sex beast loses case appeal

A SEX beast jailed for grooming and raping an 11-year-old girl, has failed in a bid to challenge his convictions.

Dilal Uddin (38), of Heatherside Avenue, Mossley, was jailed for 11 years after being found guilty by a jury at Manchester Crown Court in 2008 of rape and seven other counts of sexual abuse.

Lawyers took his case to the Court of Appeal, in London, where they argued that the convictions were unsafe because the evidence of a “key witness” was not put before the jury. His barrister, Mark Tomassi, told the appeal court that Uddin’s legal team at the time of his trial were wrong not to call the witness, who he said could have provided evidence on issues “at the centre of the prosecution case”.

But Uddin’s appeal was dismissed by top judges, who said the convictions were safe and they were “unsurprised” the evidence was not put before the jury.

Lord Justice Pill, sitting with Mr Justice Langstaff and Mrs Justice Macur, told the court the prosecution’s case at trial was that Uddin groomed the young girl, by showering her with gifts and money, before raping and abusing her.

Uddin admitted giving her the gifts, but denied all of the offences. However, he was convicted by a majority verdict of 10 to two.

Mr Tomassi argued the convictions should be overturned because Uddin had not given his “informed consent” to trial counsel for the witness not to be called.

The barrister argued the witness could have cast doubt on some of the other evidence, and said the jury may have returned different verdicts if they had heard it.

But, dismissing the appeal, Lord Justice Pill said the jury’s verdicts were safe, adding that some of the witness’s evidence would have “severely damaged” Uddin’s defence case if the jury had heard it.”