Afghan Migrant Admits Raping 12yo Girl in Nuneaton - Faces More Charges
An Afghan national dramatically changed his plea to guilty on one grave count of raping a 12-year-old girl during a hearing at Warwick Crown Court on Friday.
Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, of no fixed abode, entered the admission when rearraigned before Judge Kristina Montgomery KC on a single charge of raping a child under 13, an offence alleged to have occurred in Nuneaton on 22 July this year.
Appearing via video link from custody and assisted by a Farsi interpreter, Mulakhil confirmed his name before formally pleading guilty to the count.
He continues, however, to deny a series of further serious charges, including attempting to abduct a child, two additional counts of rape of a child under 13, and two counts of sexual assault upon a child under 13.
At an earlier plea and trial preparation hearing in August, Mulakhil had entered not guilty pleas to the full indictment.
His co-defendant, Mohammad Kabir, also 23 and of no fixed abode, maintained his previous not guilty pleas to attempting to take a child, aiding and abetting the rape of a child under 13, and intentional strangulation.
Kabir, assisted by a Pashto interpreter, spoke only to confirm his personal details during the brief proceedings.
Warwickshire Police have previously confirmed both defendants are Afghan nationals.
The case arose from an incident on 22 July in which a 12-year-old girl was allegedly subjected to a sustained sexual attack.
Following the initial charges, the matter attracted public attention when protesters gathered outside Nuneaton Town Hall on 9 August, waving St George’s Cross and Union flags while chanting anti-immigration slogans.
A smaller group of counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism was also present.
Addressing both men in the dock, Judge Montgomery directed that they be produced back at court on 12 December for further case management.
She informed them that the young complainant would attend on that date to give evidence and face cross-examination in a special measures hearing.
“You should both reflect carefully on your position before that takes place,” the judge told the defendants.
Both men were remanded in continuing custody ahead of a full trial fixed to commence on 26 January next year.
Sentencing on the admitted count will follow the resolution of the outstanding charges against Mulakhil and the trial of Kabir.
