Child sex abuse trial: Accused "contacted rape victim on Facebook after arrest"

A DEFENDANT charged with sexually abusing a woman when she was 13 years old contacted her on Facebook when he was arrested last year and sent her a “thumbs up” emoji, a court heard.

Ishtiaq Khaliq (33) is charged with raping the now 27-year-old woman in 2003.

He is also charged with indecently assaulting two other women when they were aged 12 to 13 between 1999 and 2001.

Khaliq is on trial at Sheffield Crown Court with seven other men charged with a number of historic sexual offences against the 27-year-old woman, who is appearing in court today to give her evidence.

Miss Michelle Colborne, prosecuting, said that police told the complainant in October 2015 that a number of men had been arrested in connection with her complaint, including Khaliq.

When Miss Colborne asked the woman if she had had any form of contact with Khaliq, the alleged victim replied: “Yes, he contacted me on Facebook, I think it was days after he was arrested.”

The woman said she had received a private message request on the social networking site from a person called Ishy Khaliq, who she was not friends with.

She added: “When I clicked on it, he had sent me a thumbs up, like an emoji.

“There were no words and I didn't reply.”

Khaliq and the other men deny all the charges.

The trial continues.