Prisoner in appeal court bid

A MOSSLEY man jailed for grooming and raping an 11-year-old girl has launched a bid to appeal against his convictions.

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

But his lawyers yesterday took his case to the Court of Appeal in London where they argued the convictions are “unsafe” because the evidence of a “key witness” was not put before the jury.

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, but Uddin denied any wrong-doing and continues to protest his innocence.

Sir Hugh Bennett, sitting with Lord Justice Moore Bick and Mr Justice Nicol, adjourned the case so lawyers can produce further evidence before judges decide whether there should be a full appeal hearing.