Sex offender skips court and goes on run as Police Scotland launch manhunt

A sex offender skipped court and has gone on the run after being convicted of abusing a young boy.

Husayin Simsek repeatedly sexually abused a boy when the victim was aged between three and six.

A Police Scotland manhunt is now underway to track him down and bring him to justice.

The 50-year-old preyed on the boy between 2020 and 2023 at a property in Edinburgh.

Court papers reveal that, at a property in the capital's Magdalene Drive, he repeatedly touched the boy's private parts.

He denied his guilt and went on trial over the claims at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

A jury convicted him of an offence under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 in December and sentencing was adjourned for background reports to be prepared.

He was due to be sentenced last month but skipped court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On Saturday, Police Scotland appealed to the public for help tracking him down and warned people not to approach him.

The force revealed that he had not been seen for 12 days, last being spotted on January 18 - two days before he was due to be sentenced.

He did not show up for his sentencing hearing on January 20 and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The missing person appeal said he had last been seen in the capital's Dalry Road area at around 8pm on Sunday, January 18.

He was then reported missing on Friday, January, with the public appeal for information on his whereabouts made the following day, Saturday, January 31.

He is described as around 6ft, of athletic build with black hair, but police said it was not known what he may be wearing.

He is known to have access to a white BMW series 3 saloon, with the registration plate YA69 KWF, and officers are keen to trace this vehicle.

Inspector Ross Nicol said: “We are asking anyone who has seen him or knows where he might be to get in touch.

“Anyone who can help is asked not to approach Husayin but to call Police Scotland immediately on 101, quoting incident number 3339 of Friday, 29 January, 2026.”

Police Scotland said today that the manhunt to track him down was still ongoing.

The Scottish Court Service confirmed that he had been convicted in December, that sentencing had been adjourned until January, and that a warrant was issue for his arrest when he failed to appear.