A JUDGE has said he is powerless to deal properly with a sex attacker whom he set free.

Afghanistan-born Zadha Khan has twice been convicted of sex attacks on strangers, but because he is on a visitor's visa, he cannot be deported.

And because he has spent so much time on remand awaiting trial, a judge has been forced to set him free.

Judge Michael Cartlidge told Newcastle Crown Court yesterday that he was powerless to deal properly with Khan.

He said: "I think girls may be at risk of being abused by this defendant in the future.

"I hope the police will be able to keep some surveillance on his activity."

Khan was convicted in March last year of groping a 22-year-old woman in a Newcastle store.

Only two months later, he struck again, this time at his shop in Fenham, in the city.

Khan, who is married with a wife and six children in Pakistan, targeted a 14-year-old girl.

Khan, formerly of Belsay Place, Fenham, denied indecent assault, but was found guilty by a Newcastle Crown Court jury.

Yesterday, the 34-year-old was given an eight-month prison sentence and ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years.

But the court heard the authorities have not taken any steps to deport Khan, who has been in the UK since 1999 on a six-year visa.

Judge Cartlidge said that because of the length of time he had spent in prison awaiting trial, he should be freed. He plans to live in Doncaster.

John Elvidge, defending, said: "He has a visa to stay until 2005, and no notice has been served on the court by the Home Office or prosecution."