Afghan Asylum Seeker Found Guilty of Abducting and Raping 12-Year-Old Girl in Warwickshire
Ahmad Mulakhil, a 23-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, has been convicted of abducting and raping a 12-year-old girl in Warwickshire. The attack occurred last July after Mulakhil targeted the child in a park in Nuneaton, according to prosecutors.
Details of the Conviction and Trial
At Warwick Crown Court, Mulakhil was unanimously found guilty of rape and two counts of sexual assault. He had previously admitted to an additional rape charge before his trial. Jurors also convicted him of child abduction and taking an indecent video of the girl during the ordeal.
During the proceedings, Mulakhil claimed he did not force the girl to do anything or threaten her family, stating that he filmed her at her insistence during a brief period of sexual activity.
Acquittal of Co-Defendant and Immigration Background
Co-defendant Mohammad Kabir, also an Afghan national, was acquitted of charges including intentional strangulation, attempted child abduction, and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence. Kabir, who told jurors he was 22, maintained he never touched the victim and had no sexual intentions towards her.
The trial revealed that Mulakhil arrived in the UK four months before the rapes and had made an immigration application related to problems he experienced in Afghanistan. It was not disclosed whether he or Kabir arrived by small boat, though Kabir entered the UK on Christmas Day in 2024.
Public and Political Reaction
The attack sparked protests in Nuneaton, with demonstrators marching along the high street holding St George's Cross and Union flags while chanting slogans such as "stop the boats" and "we want our country back."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch alleged a "cover-up" of details about the attack. In August, Mr Farage suggested police should release the immigration status of people charged with offences.
Police guidance has since changed to allow forces to provide nationality and ethnicity details if there is a legitimate policing purpose, but forces still do not confirm the immigration status of crime suspects.
Sentencing and Judicial Remarks
Mulakhil has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date. Judge Kristina Montgomery KC indicated that he will receive a substantial custodial sentence, which will automatically make him liable for deportation upon its conclusion.
She thanked jurors for performing their duties without being influenced by the "noise" surrounding the case.
