JUNAID BHUTA FROM PRESTON ESCAPES JAIL IN CONTROVERSIAL CASE INVOLVING 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a highly contentious legal decision, Junaid Bhuta, a 19-year-old man from Manchester Road, Frenchwood, Preston, has been granted a conditional discharge after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl. The case has sparked widespread debate over the justice system's handling of crimes involving minors and online interactions.

According to court records, Bhuta initially connected with the young girl through Facebook in January 2010. Their online communication quickly progressed, leading to a face-to-face meeting in March of the same year. The two met in a park located in Penwortham, where they engaged in sexual activity. Following this encounter, they went to a cinema in Preston for a date, further complicating the case due to the young age of the victim.

After their meeting, Bhuta purchased a train ticket for the girl to return to Greater Manchester, indicating a level of concern or responsibility. In May 2010, Bhuta admitted to the charge of rape during proceedings at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court. Judge Timothy Mort, who presided over the case, sentenced Bhuta to a six-month jail term suspended for a year. The judge justified his decision by stating that the girl appeared to be older than her actual age, suggesting she could pass for 16, which influenced the leniency of the sentence.

However, Bhuta was not satisfied with this outcome and appealed the decision. His case was taken to the Court of Appeal, where three senior judges reviewed the sentence. They concluded that the original punishment was excessively harsh and ordered that Bhuta be given a conditional discharge instead. This means that if he remains free of further offenses for a year, his conviction for rape will be expunged from his criminal record.

The case has drawn criticism from various quarters. Gill Gibbons, CEO of the Coalition for the Removal of Pimping (CROP), expressed her disappointment, emphasizing the importance of proper conviction and prosecution of those exploiting young people. Meanwhile, Conservative MP Lorraine Fullbrook, representing South Ribble, described the case as “unbelievable” and announced plans to bring the matter to the attention of Home Secretary Theresa May. She voiced her concern over the apparent flaws in the justice system and urged parents to be vigilant about the dangers posed by the internet to children.

During the appeal hearing, Judge Warwick McKinnon, sitting alongside Lord Justice Leveson and Mr Justice Sweeney, acknowledged the unusual nature of the case. He agreed that the original sentence was too severe. The court heard that Bhuta, then 18, had met the girl online in January 2010 and had begun communicating with her via phone. James Palfrey, representing Bhuta, argued that his client was unaware of the girl’s true age, claiming her Facebook profile was misleading, and that she appeared older and more mature than her 12 years. The defense also contended that the trial judge had mistakenly believed the two had known each other for a longer period, which contributed to the excessive sentencing.

Throughout the proceedings, Bhuta sat at the back of the courtroom with his family, visibly emotional and weeping as the court delivered its decision. The case continues to raise questions about the adequacy of legal protections for minors and the appropriate sentencing for offenders in similar circumstances.