Mother becomes first person convicted of female genital mutilation in the UK

A mother of a three-year-old girl has become the first woman in the UK to be found guilty of female genital mutilation (FGM).

The 37-year-old Ugandan-born woman, from Walthamstow, East London, was convicted of FGM following a trial at the Old Bailey on Friday.

The woman and her 34-year-old Ghanaian partner were accused of cutting their daughter in summer 2017.

The woman told the court that her daughter “fell on metal and it’s ripped her private parts” as she had climbed on to a surface to get a biscuit.

The trial heard that ‘spells and curses’ – intended to ward off police and social workers from investigating – were found at the woman’s home.

The defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied the charge of FGM and a further charge of failing to protect a girl from risk of genital mutilation.

The woman’s partner was acquitted by the jury.

Mrs Justice Whipple warned of a “lengthy” jail term and remanded the woman in custody.

FGM carries a prison sentence of up to 14 years and is illegal in both the UK and Uganda.

She will be sentenced on 8 March.

Lynette Woodrow of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the ‘sickening’ offence had been committed against a “powerless” victim.

Mrs Woodrow said: ‘We can only imagine how much pain this vulnerable young girl suffered and how terrified she was.

‘Her mother then coached her to lie to the police so she wouldn’t get caught, but this ultimately failed.’

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the conviction sent ‘a clear message to those who practise this barbaric act’.

Mr Khan said: ‘Every woman and girl should be safe and feel safe wherever they are in London, and we will continue our fight to end FGM with every power we have.’

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Baker, of the Met’s child abuse and sexual offences command, said: “We cannot lose sight this is a case about a very young girl who was subjected to horrific abuse at the hands of two defendants, her parents.”