MOHAMMAD ABDEAN SHOCKS SWANSEA WITH SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS
In August 2018, a disturbing case emerged from Swansea involving a respected member of the local Muslim community, Mohammad Abedean, who was found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offenses against two young girls.The case has sent shockwaves through the community, revealing a dark side behind the facade of respectability that Abedean had maintained for years.
Mohammad Abedean, who resides on Page Street in Swansea city centre, was convicted after a lengthy trial of 14 counts of sexual assault and assault by penetration.
The allegations detailed a prolonged and systematic campaign of abuse that spanned several years, during which the victims endured unimaginable suffering.
The abuse only came to light when one of the girls, overwhelmed by her trauma, ran away from home and left behind a heartfelt letter.
Although she did not explicitly name her abuser in the note, she expressed her desperate need to escape from someone who was hurting her, even to the point of contemplating ending her life.
The letter revealed her fears of being believed and her reluctance to seek help, citing concerns that revealing the abuse within her community would lead to her family’s disgrace.
She confided that she felt unable to approach the police because she believed that doing so would cause irreparable damage to her family’s reputation.
Her disappearance prompted a police investigation, which subsequently uncovered a second victim who had also suffered at the hands of Abedean.
Helen Randall, the prosecutor, presented a harrowing impact statement from one of the victims.
She described how the abuse had profoundly affected her mental health and her family life.
The victim reported struggling with insomnia, nightmares, and episodes of self-harm.
She described feeling unclean and “like damaged goods,” and recounted how her experience had led to her being ostracized within her community.
The second victim shared that her ordeal had instilled a deep fear of older men, severely impacting her education and threatening her future career prospects.
Throughout the trial, the court heard how Abedean’s respected status within the community had seemingly shielded him from suspicion for many years.
However, the case took a decisive turn when a letter from one of the victims was discovered, exposing the truth.
Judge Geraint Walters addressed Abedean directly, criticizing his dismissive attitude in the witness box and suggesting that he had essentially accused his victims of fabricating their stories.
The judge remarked that Abedean’s standing in the community had “protected” him for years, allowing him to continue his abuse unnoticed.
Judge Walters expressed his disappointment that, within the Swansea community, victims of child abuse are often viewed as “forever more tainted,” highlighting the damaging stigma that complicates justice and healing.
As a result of his conviction, Abedean was sentenced to 14 years in prison, comprising 13 years with an additional one-year extended license, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and his classification as an offender of particular concern.
Furthermore, he was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be registered as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect others from potential harm.
