MOHAMMED AKRAM'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN ALLOA AND EDINBURGH: SEX OFFENDER WALKING FREE AFTER APPEAL

In a highly controversial legal development, Mohammed Akram, a man with a long and troubling history of violent and sexual offenses, has been released from custody following an appeal that deemed his previous conviction unsafe. Akram, aged 53, who had been convicted of molesting a four-year-old girl and sentenced to life imprisonment, is now a free man, sparking widespread concern and criticism from child protection advocates and legal experts alike.

The case originated from an incident that took place during a New Year’s Day celebration in Edinburgh in 2011. According to court records, Akram allegedly sneaked into the young girl’s bedroom and indecently assaulted her while guests were gathered at her family’s home. The young victim, then only five years old, testified via CCTV during the trial, describing how a man had “touched her tuppy.” Her testimony was a crucial part of the prosecution’s case, but it was also a point of contention during the appeal.

Appeal judges, including Lord Eassie, sitting alongside Lords Bracadale and Wheatley, reviewed footage of the girl’s court appearance. They observed that her attention was easily diverted, she attempted to leave the courtroom, and she refused to answer questions at various points. Lord Eassie remarked that by the second day of her testimony, the child had become incapable of engaging meaningfully in the process of giving evidence. This observation led the court to conclude that her ability to provide reliable testimony was compromised, rendering the original conviction unsafe.

Furthermore, the appeal highlighted a significant legal misdirection by the trial judge, Lord Brodie, who provided the jury with instructions on how to interpret DNA evidence in relation to the case. The Crown’s advocate, Iain McSporran, acknowledged that this was a “material misdirection,” which contributed to a miscarriage of justice. As a result, the conviction was overturned, and Akram was released from prison.

Mohammed Akram’s criminal history is extensive. He previously served five years for culpable homicide following a conviction in 1979, when he was a teenager. In 2003, he was sentenced to eight years for a serious sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl in Alloa, where he was living at the time. During that incident, he dragged the victim from room to room after she awoke to find him at her bedroom door, slapping and punching her before forcing her into a sexual act. The judge at that time described the offense as “a crime of very considerable seriousness” and ordered that Akram remain under supervision for an additional three years.

Despite these prior convictions, Akram was on licence when he committed the latest offense in Edinburgh. The court heard that he was detained again in January 2012 after the incident involving the four-year-old girl. The judge, Lord Brodie, emphasized the danger Akram posed to the public, especially given his history. He ordered that Akram serve a minimum of one year before being eligible for parole and placed him under a lifelong restriction order, which is reserved for the most serious sexual and violent offenders. Akram was also ordered to register as a sex offender.

Following his release, reactions from child protection organizations and political figures have been swift. Anne Houston, the chief executive of Children 1st, expressed her concern, stating, “The failure of the authorities to act in the best interests of a very young victim and to consider how she might have been better supported to give her best evidence has undoubtedly led to this outcome. Such a young child should never have been expected to give evidence over two days.”

Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Graeme Pearson criticized the legal process, saying, “Cases like these try the public’s patience. If the key issue was a misdirection, then there is nothing to be lost in a retrial. In addition, the expectation of a five-year-old participating in a two-day examination for the court is unreasonable.”

Meanwhile, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Tam Baillie, highlighted the importance of protecting very young witnesses, stating, “Expecting a very young child to go through the gruelling process of giving evidence for an extended period of time is inappropriate. We must look at the best ways to ensure that the evidence of very young children can be heard and taken into account.”

This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the justice system in handling cases involving young victims and repeat offenders like Mohammed Akram, whose criminal record spans decades and includes some of the most serious offenses. The decision to release him has ignited debate about the adequacy of current legal safeguards and the treatment of vulnerable witnesses in criminal proceedings.