A judge imposed a reporting restriction preventing the jury and public from learning that a man accused of raping a teenager was an asylum seeker, ruling that disclosure risked prejudicing the administration of justice.
Judge Nirmal Shant KC made the order in September last year ahead of the trial of Sheraz Malik, 28, who was subsequently convicted of two counts of rape at Birmingham Crown Court.
The restriction meant that Malik’s immigration status could not be reported until after the case concluded. It can now be revealed that he is a Pakistani national who had previously resided in Italy, Germany and France before arriving in the United Kingdom.
The judge ruled the information should be withheld to avoid what she described as a “substantial risk of prejudice to the administration of justice.”
The trial was moved from Nottingham Crown Court to Birmingham after Reform UK MP Lee Anderson publicly revealed Malik’s asylum seeker status following his arrest. Mr Anderson’s posts triggered an anti-immigration protest in Sutton-in-Ashfield, where the attack took place.
Mr Anderson criticised the judge’s decision, saying: “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.”
The MP claimed police had asked him not to publicise the case for fear of jeopardising the prosecution.
Birmingham Crown Court heard that Malik attacked the 18-year-old victim in Sutton Lawn park in June last year. The woman had been drinking with a friend and was described as “drunk and obviously vulnerable.”
An unidentified accomplice raped her before Malik dragged her by the hair to a secluded area where he also attacked her. The victim told the court she had been “scared of saying no.”
Malik claimed the encounter was consensual but jurors rejected his account.
Detective Inspector Nicole Milner confirmed work is ongoing to locate a second suspect. Malik has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on a date to be fixed.
