Brave survivor who was abused as a child praised by Hertfordshire Constabulary after trial
A woman who gave evidence in a sexual abuse trial, where she proved she was abused as a child, has been praised by Hertfordshire Constabulary.
The abuse survivor gave evidence which helped convict her attacker during a recent trial. Hertfordshire Constabulary revealed that the victim, who is entitled to lifelong anonymity, waited more than 30 years for justice.
She told a court that childhood sexual abuse denied her the chance to discover who she could have become.
Hertfordshire Constabulary adds that she endured a sustained campaign of sexual abuse between 1994 and 2003 when the victim was under the age of 13.
She said in court today: “The abuse has affected every stage of my life. It has shaped my education, my relationships, my mental health, my self-worth, my career and my ability to trust other people.
“The years I spent fighting to be believed caused repeated breakdowns, long periods of depression and a profound loss of identity. I will never know who I could have become had this not happened to me.
“The childhood I should have had, and the person I might have become, were taken from me. That loss is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Her abuser, Haji Hussain Mohammed, aged 52, was previously found guilty of six counts of indecent assault and three counts of indecency following a trial in June, having denied the offences.
He was found not guilty of one count of indecent assault. The abuse was first reported to police in 2003, with the case no further actioned by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Hertfordshire Constabulary revealed.
Following a review process by the CPS in 2023, the case was re-opened and then thoroughly re-investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Non-Recent Child Abuse Investigation Team, the force added.
Mohammed, formerly of Heronswood Road in Welwyn Garden City, was subsequently charged with the offences in February and March last year, according to legislation in place at the time.
He was jailed for 10 years at St Albans Crown Court today, the maximum available sentence, and also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Detective Constable Gemma Lobacz, who led the investigation, said: “Firstly, I wish to commend the victim for showing courage and bravery throughout the investigation and court process, and for remaining committed to seeking justice despite significant personal challenges.
“This case shows that there is no time limit on justice. We remain committed to identifying, pursuing and holding offenders accountable, regardless of when their crimes were committed.
“Mohammed will now serve a considerable amount of time behind bars, and I hope this result will offer a sense of closure.”