Rotherham abuse trial: Abduction charge dropped against Arshid Hussain

A jury at Sheffield Crown Court was directed to find Arshid Hussain not guilty of one count of abduction of a 15-year-old girl when she was in foster care.

The charge had said the alleged offence had involved ‘repeat offending of the same kind’ by Hussain between November 1999 and June 2001.

He was accused of taking the girl ‘out of the possession of her parent or guardian against their will’.

Judge Sarah Wright told the jury that the evidence of the complainant had said her foster carer ‘allowed her to go and see Arshid Hussain’.

She said: “I have ruled that a properly-directed jury could not convict upon that count bearing in mind she was allowed out by her foster carer.”

Hussain still faces one count of abduction in relation to when the same complainant, known as Girl J, was living with her parents.

He is also charged with one count of rape and three counts of indecent assault in relation to same girl, as well as being charged with offences involving eight other now-adult women.

Hussain accepts having a child with Girl J but said he believed her to be over the age of consent throughout their relationship.

The trial continues.