Couple accused of FGM horror that ‘left girl of 3 needing emergency op’

A MAN and woman appeared in court yesterday accused of subjecting a threeyear-old girl to female genital mutilation.

The victim needed emergency surgery after being left severely wounded by the alleged attack at her east London home.

Although the couple tried to blame her injuries on a household accident, they were charged after a year-long police inquiry.

The case is only the third time that controversial charges of female genital mutilation have been brought to court.

Two previous cases resulted in acquittals, including the case of a Somali taxi driver which collapsed in Bristol in February.

The authorities faced questions after the judge directing the jury to find the father not guilty of child cruelty. At the time, Judge Julian Lambert said: ‘There is no evidence put by the prosecution as to when or how any alleged mutilation is said to have taken place. The evidence in this case is deeply troubling.’

Prosecutors are desperate to secure their first conviction for an offence first made illegal in this country in 1985.

Campaigners claim there are thousands of British victims, with many taken overseas to be mutilated and cut. But a lack of willingness among victims, family members and friends to alert the authorities has hindered investigations. The Government has pledged £35million to eradicate FGM and in 2015 it was made a requirement for medical staff, teachers and social workers to report cases. Last year, Eurostar passengers at London’s St Pancras were grilled by officials about where they had been in a bid to root out FGM offenders.

Yesterday, the Ghanaian man, 42, and Ugandan woman, 36, appeared in the dock at Thames Magistrates’ Court. The man entered not-guilty pleas to five counts put against him, including female genital mutilation and failing to protect the girl. The woman wept into her hands and only spoke to confirm her name, address, and to also enter not-guilty pleas to similar charges.

The pair are also accused of possessing extreme pornographic videos involving horses, dogs, snakes and children.

Prosecutor Paul Okabu said: ‘This is a serious matter that is highly unusual and complicated in many ways. FGM is a serious offence but also is a cultural issue.’

District Judge Gareth Branston sent the case to the Old Bailey, adding that if convicted, the couple face a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment.

He quoted a senior judge calling FGM ‘a barbaric practice beyond the pale.’

The pair were remanded in custody and will appear again in court later this month.