AN INTERNATIONAL manhunt has been stepped up for a rapist who fled to France halfway through his Bradford trial.

West Yorkshire detectives are liaising with Interpol and authorities in France in a bid to track down Wakar Akhtar.

Akhtar, 21, failed to turn up for the remainder of his crown court trial after giving evidence to the jury.

He was convicted in his absence, with three co-accused, of conspiracy to rape. They were each jailed for 17 years for the "despicable and inhuman" plot to abduct a schoolteacher and rape her in a dark and lonely Bradford park.

The vulnerable young woman, who lost consciousness after drinking with friends, came round to find a stranger having sex with her on a park bench.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Akhtar, of Hudson Avenue, Canterbury, Bradford, after he absconded.

A court heard that within hours of giving evidence in the dock, Akhtar travelled in a car from his home in Bradford to Dover where he caught a ferry to Calais.

Yesterday, the senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Snow, said West Yorkshire officers were working with authorities in France, via Interpol.

He said: "The hunt continues for Wakar Akhtar and we are working closely with the French authorities.

"We are determined to bring Akhtar to justice. He has been found guilty of a despicable and vile crime against a vulnerable, lone female, and it is incumbent upon us to ensure that he is found and brought back before the courts to serve his sentence."

Det Chief Insp Snow said Akhtar had lived around Little Horton and Great Horton and had been in Bradford for a number of years.

He added: "There will be people out there who know him and who may know his current whereabouts. We would ask them to contact us on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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