Afghan Asylum Seeker Found Guilty of Heinous Sex Crimes Against Child
Ahmad Mulakhil, an Afghan asylum seeker, has been convicted today of multiple sex offences against a 12-year-old girl in a case that has ignited fierce debate over police transparency and immigration policies. The 23-year-old was found guilty at Warwick Crown Court following a ten-day trial that heard harrowing details of the attack which occurred on a summer evening last year in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
Disturbing Details of the Attack Emerge in Court
The court heard that Mulakhil first spotted his victim playing on swings in a park. He later approached her on a nearby street, taking her to a grassy area beside garages where he threatened to kill her family before repeatedly raping her. Shockingly, Mulakhil was recorded laughing and taking photographs of the child during the assault. Prosecutors revealed he spent approximately 80 minutes with the girl in a cul-de-sac, during which he subjected her to horrific sexual violence.
The young victim bravely testified about the encounter, telling police: "He was saying that he liked me. I said, 'I don't like you. I'm young. I'm a kid'." Despite her protests, Mulakhil continued the attack, with his DNA later found on the girl's neck and inside her shorts.
Home Office Payment Card Leads to Identification
Following the assault, Mulakhil was captured on CCTV taking the victim to a convenience store to purchase Red Bull. Crucially, he used a Home Office payment card issued in his name to pay for the drinks, which ultimately led police to identify him. These cards are provided to asylum seekers awaiting decisions on their applications, allowing them to buy basic necessities with weekly top-ups ranging from £9.95 to £49.18.
Mulakhil was arrested four days after the incident in his sparsely-furnished bedroom at a house of multiple occupancy in Nuneaton. Bodyworn footage released by Warwickshire Police shows the moment of his apprehension. He initially pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape after officers discovered an image of the incident on his mobile phone.
Controversy Over Police Handling of Immigration Status
The case has sparked significant controversy regarding police disclosure of suspects' backgrounds. It emerged that Warwickshire Police had advised councillors and officials not to reveal the immigration status of Mulakhil and a second suspect, Mohammed Kabir, for fear of "inflaming community tensions." Kabir, 24, was acquitted of all charges related to the same incident.
George Finch, leader of Warwickshire County Council, accused both the police and Home Office of covering up the suspects' immigration status. This controversy has since led to new national guidance for police forces regarding the disclosure of ethnicity and nationality in high-profile cases.
Detective Chief Inspector Colette O'Keefe of Warwickshire Police stated outside court: "We deal with people robustly and we get results very quickly." She emphasized that "it doesn't matter about nationality and ethnicity" in such investigations, adding: "I think what's got lost in a lot of this is that it's a 12-year-old victim at the heart of this investigation."
Immigration Background and Sentencing Implications
Mulakhil arrived in the United Kingdom on a small boat just four months before the attack and had been "placed" in Nuneaton six weeks prior to targeting the girl. He told jurors his "immigration application" was still being processed at the time of the rape. Both he and Kabir lived in taxpayer-funded rented houses managed by Serco, with approximately five asylum seekers accommodated in each property.
Judge Kristina Montgomery KC warned Mulakhil that he would "plainly receive a substantial sentence which will make him eligible for automatic deportation once it is served." The defendant was remanded into custody pending sentencing at a later date.
Broader Implications for Asylum System
The case has raised questions about the broader asylum system in the UK. A Home Office spokesman responded to the conviction by stating: "We will not allow foreign criminals and illegal migrants to exploit our laws. We are reforming human rights laws and replacing the broken appeals system so we can scale up deportations."
Additionally, the Home Office launched an investigation last July into claims that some asylum seekers may be using their payment cards for gambling purposes. A Freedom of Information request revealed that more than 6,500 gambling-related payments were attempted by asylum seekers in the previous year.
Superintendent Steve Flavell of Warwickshire Police addressed allegations of a cover-up, explaining: "We did everything in line with the guidance that was available at the time. Today, we still wouldn't release the immigration status of an offender, as that's information that's owned by the Home Office."
The conviction comes amid ongoing national debates about immigration policy, police transparency, and the protection of vulnerable children in communities across Britain.
