POLICE are searching for a mother accused of torturing her child.

Magistrates yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of Zainad Khaled who is accused of heating a kitchen knife in a flame then pressing the searing metal against the flesh of her six year old daughter’s leg.

Khaled, 39, of New Church Road, Hove, is accused of burning the girl as a punishment on October 7 last year.

Khaled had been arrested and charged with causing unnecessary suffering to the little girl, and released on bail.

But when she failed to appear in court yesterday a warrant was issued for her arrest.

It is thought her visa to live in Britain whilst studying at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School may now have expired leading to concerns she could have fled the country.

Michelle Sherlock, prosecuting, told Brighton Magistrates’ Court: “Khaled was a student doctor who entered this country on a visa. The allegation is she abused her child and caused her ill treatment or neglect.

The allegation is she selected a kitchen knife from the drawer, heated it in a flame and placed it on the child.

“The police officers who attended court with her on the first occasion were under the understanding that her visa had expired in May.” Sources at Sussex Police child protection unit described it as a “really nasty case”.

A spokeswoman said: “A warrant has been issued for this woman’s arrest and any help in capturing Mrs Khaled would be greatly appreciated.”

A spokesman for Brighton and Sussex Medical School said Khaled was no longer a student at the University of Brighton, but that she had been on a postgraduate masters course in diabetes.

The course is designed for qualified GPs and hospital doctors to get specialist training to treat patients with diabetes.

Anyone who thinks they know Khaled’s whereabouts should call Sussex Police on 101.