A man who groomed and raped a child used a fake identity to evade police.

Jalal Hossain, 40, of Tower Hamlets, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday (October 6) where he was found guilty of two counts of oral rape of a child under the age of 13.

Hossain - also known as Abdul Sottar -  had groomed the girl, who was known to him, over the course of several visits to different places in Tower Hamlets.

In 2012 he raped and sexually assaulted her on two occasions.

The girl disclosed the abuse to a family member years in 2016, who reported it to the police.

Officers launched a “painstaking investigation”, gathering evidence and witness statements from more than ten years ago.

Hossain was on the run for several years and used a different identity to hide from the authorities, with his alias Abdul Sottar even having a different birthday.

But officers made a breakthrough when they identified a phone number that Hossain was using.

A manhunt was triggered that led to his arrest  in Kensington on March 23.

Hossain refused to answer questions about the allegation, and denied his real identity and knowing the victim-survivor.

The victim and another witness identified him after he was arrested, despite neither witness seeing him for over 10 years.

He was charged in police custody on March 24.

He is due to be sentenced on Thursday (December 7) at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Detective Constable Emma Price of Met’s Central Specialist Crime team said Hossain “exploited and took advantage of a vulnerable child” and “abused the position of trust he had been given”.

She added: “She (the victim) showed commendable bravery in providing evidence to police and at the trial.

“I hope that this conviction will bring her a small measure of comfort and a sense that justice has been done.

“We will continue to support her and I hope her actions will encourage any other survivors of sexual abuse to come forward.”

Victims of sexual assault or rape can report the crime on 101 or 999 in an emergency to specially trained officers who will listen and investigate where needed.