A CONVICTED paedophile who kidnapped and sexually exploited teenage girls has finally been deported back to Pakistan.

Zulfar Hussain has been at the centre of a year-long legal battle after he originally won the right to stay in the UK on his release in April 2010.

He argued his right to a family life in the country based on his British citizen wife of 21 years and children living in Blackburn for 10 years.

But the UK Borders Agency detained 50-year-old Hussain and successfully appealed that decision in January.

After several failed re-appeals, during which he sacked his legal team, UKBA officers fast-tracked his deportation and emergency travel documents were obtained, with Hussain sent back to Islamabad on Saturday night.

A UKBA spokesman said it was not known if his family - who stood by him during his sentence and visited him in prison - had joined him in his native country.

Hussain, formerly of Cowell Way, Blackburn, was jailed for five years and eight months in August 2007 for child abduction, sexual activity with a child and supplying youngsters with ecstasy.

The two girls he targeted and groomed with fellow convicted sexual predator Qaiser Naveed, 34, formerly of Colne Road, Burnley, were aged 13 and 14.

The two men showering them with gifts, cash and heroin before taking them to a house and using them for sex.

Naveed did not contest his own deportation order when released part way through his sentence.

Officers in the case, including specialist child sexual exploitation team Engage, have hailed the decision as ‘a victory for common sense’.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "We will not accept foreign nationals like Zulfar Hussain breaking our laws. Those who commit serious offences should be removed at the earliest possible opportunity.

“We will do all we can to protect the public from those who abuse their right to be here."