London father cleared over FGM offences
The 50-year-old man, of south London, had been accused of twice arranging for someone to cut the girl with a razor as she lay on a mat in the hallway. He was also acquitted of five other charges at the Old Bailey, including child cruelty and wounding with intent. The man, originally from West Africa, had denied all of the accusations. The case is only the second FGM prosecution brought to court in the UK, both of which led to acquittals. During the trial, jurors were told the child could not recall the identity of the person who allegedly subjected her to the ordeal twice between 2010 and 2013. The girl said she cried in pain and begged for it to stop but her father just encouraged the cutter, the court heard. The allegations came to light after the girl told a friend, whose mother contacted Childline.
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