An Afghan asylum seeker has admitted to raping a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, changed his plea to guilty on one count of oral rape at Warwick Crown Court on Friday, marking a significant development in a case that sparked protests in the Midlands town earlier this year.
The incident occurred on July 22 between 8:30pm and 9:45pm in the Cheverel Street area of Nuneaton. Mulakhil was arrested four days later and charged the following day. At a previous hearing in August, he had denied all charges including abduction, three counts of rape of a child under 13, and two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.
While admitting to one count of oral rape, Mulakhil continues to deny the remaining charges. He will face trial on these outstanding allegations on January 26.
Co-defendant denies all charges
Mohammed Kabir, 23, also an Afghan asylum seeker, appeared alongside Mulakhil at Friday's hearing. Kabir denies charges of aiding and abetting rape of a child under 13, intentional strangulation, and attempting to take a child.
Both men required interpreters during the proceedings before Judge Kristina Montgomery KC. Kabir spoke only to confirm his name, while Mulakhil confirmed his name and entered his guilty plea when rearraigned on the single rape count.
Controversy and protests
The case sparked protests outside Nuneaton's Town Hall on August 9. Demonstrators carrying St George's Cross and Union flags marched along the high street chanting "Stop the boats" and "We want our country back". Counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism, holding placards reading "stop the far-right", were significantly outnumbered.
According to the Mail on Sunday, both defendants lived in separate Serco-managed, taxpayer-funded rented houses on adjoining streets about 70 yards apart, each housing around five asylum seekers. CCTV footage obtained by the newspaper reportedly shows a man walking with a girl near Cheverel Street around 8pm, approximately 30 minutes before the alleged attack.
In August, Warwickshire Police faced accusations of attempting to cover up the immigration status of the men. The force denied this, stating they were following national policy by not disclosing ethnicity or immigration status.
Judge Montgomery remanded both defendants in custody. They will appear in court again on December 12, when the complainant witness will be cross-examined. The judge told the defendants to "reflect carefully" on their position before that hearing.
The 12-year-old victim is receiving specialist care.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
