Arabic version: لاجئ أفغاني يُحكم عليه بالسجن بتهمة اغتصاب فتاة تبلغ من العمر 12 عامًا

An asylum seeker who abducted and raped a 12-year-old girl has been given a 16-year sentence. The attack by Afghan national Ahmad Mulakhil last summer led to protests in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. According to BBC News, jurors found the 23-year-old guilty of multiple charges, including rape, abduction, and sexual assault.

During a hearing at Warwick Crown Court, Judge Kristina Montgomery KC highlighted the psychological harm suffered by the victim, noting that she experienced ongoing trauma and medical issues. The judge described the distress the girl faced after being left alone in a park following the attack.

The court heard that Mulakhil, who came to the UK on a small boat four months before the offences, had targeted the girl after meeting her earlier. Security footage captured their interaction, where Mulakhil asked the girl about her age, to which she falsely claimed to be 19.

Defending Mulakhil, attorney Marcus Harry stated that the defendant fled Afghanistan due to threats from the Taliban and had plans to pursue higher education. However, the judge emphasized the severity of the crime, which included abduction to a secluded location, increasing the sentence’s length significantly. Mulakhil will serve 15 years in prison and an extra 12 months on licence.