In nuneaton, Afghan asylum seeker Ahmad Mulakhil has been jailed after abducting and raping a 12-year-old girl. Judge Kristina Montgomery KC at Warwick Crown Court imposed a sentence described in court as 16 years, comprising 15 years in custody plus an extra 12 months on licence. The attack, which took place on 22 July after Mulakhil had arrived in the UK four months earlier, sparked local protests and immediate police action.
Details of the case
Jurors found Mulakhil guilty of rape, abduction, sexual assault and taking an indecent video; he had already pleaded guilty to a count of rape of a child under 13 ahead of the hearing. The victim told the court she had been approached after playing on swings in a nuneaton park, told her attacker to stop, and said he laughed while attacking her. CCTV and security camera material shown in court captured an exchange in which Mulakhil asked the girl her age and she said she was 19; the judge noted, “She said she was 19, which was an obvious lie. “
Passing sentence, Judge Kristina Montgomery KC said the girl had suffered “psychological harm” with “ongoing trauma and medical issues, ” and warned that “There is no dispute that your culpability is at the highest level. ” The judge described how the victim was left alone in the park in the darkness after the attack and remained distressed and hypervigilant.
Immediate reactions in Nuneaton
The attack prompted protests in Nuneaton and generated strong courtroom exchanges. Daniel Oscroft, prosecutor at the trial, condemned attempts by the defendant to shift blame, calling them “stomach-churning” and “pretty revolting. ” Defending Mulakhil, Marcus Harry said his client had fled Afghanistan, arriving in the UK when he was 22 and had made an immigration application linked to problems at home; he said Mulakhil had planned to attend university. Court observers noted the defendant showed no visible emotion and used an interpreter while listening to the evidence.
What’s next
The sentence was handed down at Warwick Crown Court and will be recorded in court files; any further legal steps will proceed through the criminal justice system there. Local authorities and medical professionals are expected to remain involved in the victim’s ongoing care as described by the judge. Coverage of courtroom developments and any formal appeals will continue to be tracked for the community in nuneaton.
Filed 27 March 2026, 14: 00 ET.
