Police are hunting convicted child sex trafficker Sharam Muhamadi after he failed to appear at Sheffield Crown Court and was convicted in his absence. Muhamadi, 21, was found guilty on Tuesday 9 June of two counts of arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation.
He had been remanded in custody between charge and the start of the trial, but a bail application from his defence team was granted by the court. When he failed to appear on Monday 18 May, South Yorkshire Police launched an immediate manhunt. Reporting restrictions had prevented officers from publicly appealing for help until now.
Police said they have carried out extensive enquiries, including trawling through CCTV footage and phone records. They believe Muhamadi has links to the West Midlands and know he travelled to Birmingham by train between Saturday 16 and Monday 18 May. Officers, working with West Midlands Police, searched the area over several days and showed his photo to members of the public while patrolling the streets.
The last confirmed sighting of Muhamadi was around 9pm on Monday 18 May in Birmingham city centre. He then travelled in a taxi towards Coventry Road and the Small Heath Park area in the south-east of the city. Police say they do not know where he went from there, but they remain determined to find him and have now appealed for the public’s help.
Assistant Chief Constable Hayley Barnett said the force’s priority is securing full justice for the victims and bringing Muhamadi to account. She said officers have been relentlessly pursuing all lines of enquiry, believe he is still in the country, and will seek extradition support if he is found abroad.
Anyone who sees Muhamadi is urged not to approach him and to call 999, quoting South Yorkshire Police incident number 610 of 21 May 2026. Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers.