Two Afghan Asylum Seekers Charged in Nuneaton Assault Case

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Two Afghan asylum seekers face serious charges following the alleged assault of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, leaving the small Midlands town in shock.

Ahmad Mulakhil, aged 23, has been charged with the rape of a minor in an incident reported on Cheverel Street, Nuneaton, between 8:30 and 9:45 PM on 22 July. Mohammad Kabir, also 23, faces charges of aiding and abetting rape, as well as strangulation and kidnaping of the victim, who is currently under specialised care. Warwickshire Police arrested Mulakhil four days after the incident and charged him the following day. He appeared at Coventry Magistrates’ Court on 28 July, facing two counts of rape, and has been remanded in custody for a hearing at Warwick Crown Court on 26 August. Kabir was arrested on 31 July, charged with aiding and abetting rape, strangulation, and kidnaping, and appeared in court on 1 August, also remanded until 26 August.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage obtained from a resident near Cheverel Street shows a man walking with the victim, who is Caucasian, around 8:00 PM, approximately 30 minutes before the alleged assault. Warwickshire Police have stated they do not believe additional suspects are involved but are seeking witnesses present in the Cheverel Street area during the specified time. A police statement read: “Anyone who saw anything of interest should come forward.”

Investigations reveal that Mulakhil and Kabir resided in separate houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) approximately 70 yards apart, managed by Serco, a company contracted by the Home Office to house asylum seekers. The property owner of Mulakhil’s residence expressed horror at the incident, stating, “I was sickened to the stomach,” but noted Serco fully manages the property. Serco declined to confirm details about the individuals or properties, citing privacy policies. Gorwan Muhammad Ali, a 27-year-old resident of Kabir’s HMO, mentioned that Kabir sought work in the UK and that Serco covers residents’ bills, providing £49 weekly for expenses.

Warwickshire Police have faced criticism for advising local officials to withhold the suspects’ asylum seeker status to avoid community unrest, similar to protests in Epping, Essex, following a separate incident involving an asylum seeker. A local source, speaking anonymously, accused the police of concealing information, stating, “The public has a right to know.” Warwickshire Police defended their approach, explaining that sensitive information is shared cautiously to protect court proceedings. Their statement noted: “Disclosure of confidential details could affect future hearings.” The force emphasised their focus on supporting the victim and building a robust case, following national guidelines that exclude sharing ethnicity or immigration status post-charge.

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform, which controls Warwickshire County Council, expressed concern, stating, “Police and elected officials are acting against the British people.” Despite significant local interest, councillors across political parties reported limited information from the police. Recent months have seen similar allegations against asylum seekers in taxpayer-funded accommodations nationwide, prompting accusations of withheld information to prevent community tensions.