A man wanted in connection with the alleged indecent assault of a 14-year-old girl in Rotherham has been arrested in Bulgaria.

Shahid Hussain, a Pakistani national who previously lived in the South Yorkshire town, was detained at a border crossing between Bulgaria and Turkey, according to the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

The 48-year-old was held by Bulgarian police officers at the Kapitan Andreevo border post on 26 November as he tried to enter the country from Turkey.

Hussain is wanted over the alleged indecent assault of the girl, which is said to have happened in 2003.

He was charged with offences in July 2018, but failed to appear in court.

A European Arrest Warrant was later obtained by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

NCA operations manager Stuart Cobb said: “Hussain has been wanted by the NCA for more than five years, and we were always determined that he be brought back to the UK to face those charges.

“We will be working with our partners at the CPS and in Bulgaria to ensure that happens and the extradition process continues.”

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The investigation into Hussain is part of Operation Stovewood, which is looking into non-familial child sexual exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 to 2013.

NCA officers have so far made more than 200 arrests and have more than 50 active investigations under the Stovewood banner.

While the NCA has committed to complete the current investigations, it has previously announced it will no longer adopt new investigations from January 2024.

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