A 41-year-old man who arranged to meet someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl for sexual intercourse before absconding to Bangladesh has been sentenced to 32 months’ imprisonment in his absence at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Monzurul Haque, formerly of Essex, was convicted by a jury and sentenced in his absence following his refusal to return to the United Kingdom to face justice.
The prosecution outlined that Haque initiated private conversations across Facebook with an account operating under the name “Poppy”. Unknown to Haque, the profile was operated by an adult decoy group rather than an actual child.
Over a period of five to six days, Haque groomed the persona, fully aware that the individual he believed he was communicating with was 13 years old and well beneath the legal age of consent. Throughout the exchanges, Haque demanded that the contact remain strictly secret, discussing explicit sexual acts and asking the decoy whether she wanted to kiss, hug, or engage in sexual intercourse.
Haque coordinated an in-person meeting in Harlow, Essex. Prosecuting counsel Gareth Hughes detailed that Haque intended to take the child to his sister’s residence, which he claimed was vacant while she was away on holiday.
When Haque arrived at the pre-arranged location to meet the schoolgirl, he was confronted by members of the decoy team.
Following police intervention and formal charging, Haque was granted court bail. He subsequently fled the country to Bangladesh. A contested Crown Court trial proceeded in his absence, with the jury considering the digital evidence and returning a guilty verdict for attempting to meet a child following grooming.
Although Haque was notified of the guilty verdict and initially suggested he would return to the UK for sentencing, he ceased responding to correspondence and failed to appear.
Passing sentence in his absence, Judge Christopher Morgan stated that the correspondence was overtly sexual and demonstrated an undeniable intent to commit sexual offences against a child. The judge concluded that had an actual child attended the meeting in Harlow, Haque would have carried out his sexual intentions.
Judge Morgan sentenced Haque to two years and eight months (32 months) in prison. Because Haque remains outside the jurisdiction in Bangladesh, the sentence could not be immediately executed, and bench warrants remain active to ensure his arrest and transfer directly to prison should he return to the UK.
Under the provisions of Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, all child victims and complainants connected to criminal proceedings are protected by automatic, lifelong statutory anonymity. Publishing, broadcasting, or disseminating any details, names, addresses, educational facilities, or photographs capable of leading to public identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Haque stood convicted of:
Attempting to meet a child following grooming
Sentencing outcome and statutory measures:
32 months’ (two years and eight months) immediate imprisonment (to be served upon apprehension)
Mandatory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Permanent barring from working with children or vulnerable adults (Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists)
Outstanding bench warrant for apprehension upon return to the United Kingdom
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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