Afghan Asylum Seeker Sentenced for Abducting, Raping 12-Year-Old
A 23-year-old man from Afghanistan, an asylum seeker, has been jailed for 15 years. He was convicted for abducting and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.
Convictions and sentence
The defendant, Ahmad Mulakhil, was found guilty of rape and two counts of sexual assault. He had admitted an additional rape charge and was convicted of child abduction and taking an indecent video.
Warwick Crown Court imposed a 15-year prison term. The judge added a further 12 months on licence to follow the custodial sentence.
Details of the attack
The offences occurred on 22 July last year. The victim told jurors she had been approached after playing on swings in a Nuneaton park.
She said she told her attacker to stop, but he continued and laughed during the attack. Afterward, the girl was left alone in the park in darkness and felt hypervigilant.
Court evidence and remarks
Mulakhil arrived in the UK about four months before the offence. He had made an immigration application citing problems in Afghanistan.
He told police he believed the victim was 19. Prosecutor Daniel Oscroft criticised this defence as victim-blaming during the trial.
Judge Kristina Montgomery KC said the victim remains traumatised and suffers ongoing medical issues. The judge noted the girl was particularly vulnerable and had been targeted.
Supporting evidence
CCTV footage and witness accounts were relied upon at Warwick Crown Court. The jury concluded Mulakhil knew the girl was under 16.
The victim provided an immediate account, underwent a medical examination, and later gave evidence at trial. She faced cross-examination after the defendant contested her allegations.
Co-defendant and community reaction
Mulakhil stood trial with another Afghan asylum seeker, Muhammad Kabir. Kabir was acquitted of charges including intentional strangulation and attempted child abduction.
The case sparked large anti-immigration protests in Nuneaton last summer. Local tensions around asylum issues were heightened following the attack.
For continuing coverage and legal updates, Filmogaz.com will follow developments related to the case.
