Miloud Arouri, 38, has fled to Tunisia after being convicted of sexually abusing a vulnerable young girl in Nottingham. The day after a jury found him guilty, he flew to his home country in North Africa, avoiding his sentencing hearing at Nottingham Crown Court.
Judge Sentences in Absentia
Judge Steven Coupland jailed Arouri for nine years and seven months in his absence, saying: "The defendant in this case, Miloud Arouri, has failed to attend his sentencing hearing following a trial. A warrant has been issued for his arrest and he remains out of this jurisdiction, having flown to his home country of Tunisia. The police will try to use all means necessary to bring him back to the UK."
The judge highlighted Arouri's manipulation of the victim, who was vulnerable due to an eating disorder and self-harm. He told her she would not be believed if she disclosed the abuse. In her victim impact statement, the girl said she felt "constantly tainted" and was "serving a life sentence because of what he did."
Details of the Abuse
The trial heard that Arouri abused the young girl when he lived in Nottingham. Prosecutor Dawn Pritchard said he "touched her breasts and kissed her" on multiple occasions. He also made her watch pornography and persuaded her to touch herself sexually for his gratification.
The victim's impact statement described the abuse as having "a huge impact" on her life. Arouri, most recently of St Swithin's Close, Derby, was found guilty of charges including sexual activity with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He had no previous convictions.
Defence and Sentencing
Steve Gosnell, mitigating, said: "There is very little I can say other than he was a man of previous good character prior to this. I don't have any personal mitigation. I was asked to put it to (the victim) at the trial that this was deliberate and malicious fabrication on her part and by the jury's verdicts that does not hold much sway."
In addition to the prison term, the judge placed Arouri on the sex offender register for life. Police continue efforts to track him down should he return to the UK.
