Man Admits Guilt in Shocking Nuneaton Child Rape Case
A 23-year-old Afghan national has confessed to the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, following a dramatic change of plea at a court hearing. Ahmad Mulakhil appeared at Warwick Crown Court on Friday, where he reversed his previous not guilty stance and admitted to one count of raping a child under the age of 13.
Court Proceedings and Co-Defendant
Mulakhil, who is of no fixed abode, was in the dock alongside his co-defendant, Mohammad Kabir, also 23. The court heard that the specific offence Mulakhil pleaded guilty to occurred on July 22. This admission marks a significant shift from his position at a hearing in August, where he had denied a series of serious charges including:
- Abducting a child
- Three counts of rape of a child under 13
- Two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
Meanwhile, Kabir, also an Afghan national with no fixed address, maintained his not guilty plea to charges of attempting to take a child, aiding and abetting the rape of a child under 13, and the intentional strangulation of the young victim. Both defendants required the assistance of interpreters during the proceedings before Judge Kristina Montgomery KC.
Public Outcry and Forthcoming Trial
The allegations against the two men previously ignited strong public reactions in Nuneaton. On August 9, a protest took place outside the Town Hall where demonstrators, waving St George's Cross and Union flags, marched through the high street. Chants of "Stop the boats" and "We want our country back" were heard.
A counter-protest organised by Stand Up to Racism, which held banners reading "stop the far-right", was present but was significantly outnumbered by the main demonstration outside the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council offices.
Despite Mulakhil's guilty plea, a trial is still scheduled to proceed on January 26 for the remaining charges. Judge Montgomery has remanded both men into custody and ordered them to be produced before the court again on December 12. On that date, further directions will be given, and the complainant is expected to attend to be cross-examined. The judge advised both defendants to "reflect carefully" on their positions before the next hearing.
