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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/dec/19/brutal-sexual-assault-of-girl-took-place-even-though-prosecution-was-dropped-finds-judge
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| Girl's rape claim upheld in Leeds despite prior no-trial decision Girl's rape claim upheld in Leeds despite prior no-trial decision | |
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| A senior family court judge has concluded that a girl was “brutally” sexually assaulted by an uncle for almost a decade – nine months after a prosecution was halted. | A senior family court judge has concluded that a girl was “brutally” sexually assaulted by an uncle for almost a decade – nine months after a prosecution was halted. |
| Police investigated after the girl, now 14, told a teacher that she had been sexually abused and raped by her uncle over about nine years. Prosecutors had decided not to pursue a case against the man, who is now in his mid-20s and married with a baby daughter, in February when the girl said she did not want to give evidence at a criminal trial. | Police investigated after the girl, now 14, told a teacher that she had been sexually abused and raped by her uncle over about nine years. Prosecutors had decided not to pursue a case against the man, who is now in his mid-20s and married with a baby daughter, in February when the girl said she did not want to give evidence at a criminal trial. |
| Social workers then had to decide whether the man’s baby daughter might be at risk in the light of his niece’s complaints. They asked a family court judge to make findings about the girl’s allegations on a civil court balance of probabilities basis. | Social workers then had to decide whether the man’s baby daughter might be at risk in the light of his niece’s complaints. They asked a family court judge to make findings about the girl’s allegations on a civil court balance of probabilities basis. |
| Mr Justice Hayden has concluded that the girl was telling the truth after he staged a fact-finding trial at a private hearing in the family division of the high court in Leeds this month. The judge said the man poses a “very significant threat” and should have no access to children “without vigilant adult supervision”. | Mr Justice Hayden has concluded that the girl was telling the truth after he staged a fact-finding trial at a private hearing in the family division of the high court in Leeds this month. The judge said the man poses a “very significant threat” and should have no access to children “without vigilant adult supervision”. |
| Detail of the case emerged in a ruling published by Hayden on a legal website. The judge said the girl could not be identified but social services staff at Leeds city council had begun family court proceedings. Hayden said the man had “shown neither empathy nor remorse” and concluded: “He should have no access to children in any circumstances without vigilant adult supervision.” | Detail of the case emerged in a ruling published by Hayden on a legal website. The judge said the girl could not be identified but social services staff at Leeds city council had begun family court proceedings. Hayden said the man had “shown neither empathy nor remorse” and concluded: “He should have no access to children in any circumstances without vigilant adult supervision.” |