Judge hits out as FGM trial collapses due to lack of evidence

A JUDGE criticised police and prosecutors after a man was put on trial accused of allowing his daughter to undergo female genital mutilation, despite there being no evidence.

The 29-year-old Somali-born taxi driver from Bristol had faced child cruelty charges after allegedly forcing his six-year-old daughter to undergo the illegal procedure.

But after three days in court, Judge Julian Lambert directed the jury to find him not guilty and ruled that there was no case to answer. Describing the prosecution case as “deeply troubling”, the judge said medical evidence suggesting the girl had undergone FGM was “wholly inconclusive at its highest”.

He dismissed evidence from the key witness – an anti-fgm campaigner – as “inconsistent” and said the alleged victim had always denied being harmed.

The failure of the case means there has not been a single successful prosecution for FGM in the UK.

A spokesman for the Bristol Somali Media accused the police of “destroying the lives of innocent families”.

Det Chief Insp Leanne Pook, Avon and Somerset Police’s lead for FGM, said: “We carried out a challenging two-year investigation, supported by professionals from a range of partner agencies, which resulted in evidence being passed to the CPS and a charge being authorised for a child cruelty offence. We accept the findings of the court and will continue... to work closely with our communities to protect those at risk of FGM.”