A 'DANGEROUS' rapist has been sent back to Bradford to face justice after fleeing the country to Hungary and Romania.

Saqib Salam, 33, of Balme Street in Bradford, faced two charges of rape and one count of perverting the course of justice.

But just days before his trial was due to start, he fled the country while on bail for the offences.

The trial was held in his absence and he was convicted of both counts of rape, as well as perverting the course of justice, at Bradford Crown Court on September 8.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison.

The rapes happened at an address in Bradofrd just over three years ago, in July 2018.

Salam's perverting the course of justice conviction related to CCTV footage that showed the 33-year-old using force to push his victim into a room where he raped her.

Officers used specialised software to recover the camera footage, which Salam had attempted to delete.

The 33-year-old was arrested by Hungarian border authorities, as his trial was taking place in Bradford.

Salam was attemping to enter Romania with a false passport.

West Yorkshire Police liaised with overseas authorities to arrange for his return to the United Kingdom to serve his sentence.

Detectives from the force collected him from Heathrow Airport last Friday, before bringing him back to West Yorkshire.

DC Nick Ramsden of Bradford CID who, oversaw the case, said: “Salam is a dangerous individual who preyed on his victim’s vulnerability.

"He twice tried to avoid justice – by attempting to delete video evidence of his actions, and by leaving the country before his trial.

“He has received the sentence he deserves and that has to be welcomed.

“I am also grateful to the Romanian and Hungarian authorities for fact that he has been detained while attempting to evade the justice he deserves for carrying out these offences.”