Reform MP Lee Anderson has revealed that a Pakistani national convicted of rape was an asylum seeker, after a judge imposed a reporting restriction to hide his immigration status until the trial ended. Sheraz Malik, 28, was found guilty of two counts of rape at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, following an attack on an 18-year-old woman in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
The court heard that Malik and an accomplice, an Afghan national now believed to be abroad, targeted the victim in Sutton Lawn park last June. After the victim's friend left her briefly, the men led her to a secluded area and raped her. Malik dragged her by her hair to a tree before assaulting her, later asking, 'Did you enjoy that?' The victim had texted a friend for help during the attack.
Malik was living in taxpayer-funded accommodation at the time, having previously spent time in Italy, Germany, and France before arriving in the UK. He told housemates he was smuggled into Britain in the boot of a car. During the trial, Malik questioned the relevance of how he arrived in Europe, prompting the judge to intervene.
Mr Anderson first exposed Malik's asylum status last year, before the trial, in posts on X and Facebook, despite police requests not to publicise the case. The posts led to an anti-immigrant protest in Sutton-in-Ashfield. At a hearing in September, Judge Nirmal Shant imposed a reporting restriction to avoid prejudice to the trial, which was later moved to Birmingham due to publicity.
After the verdict, Mr Anderson said: '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.' Police are still searching for the accomplice.
