An Imam found guilty of child sex abuse at his Black Country mosque has fled the country.

West Midlands Police confirmed Hifiz Rahman, of Ballard Road in Netherton, is no longer in the UK, it’s believed he boarded a flight to Bangladesh.

The 58 year-old claimed to be too ill to attend a hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court last week, where he was convicted in his absence of sexually assaulting two girls.

Police are making urgent enquiries to arrange his return.