A father has been found not guilty of organising for his nine-year-old daughter to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) to punish her.<\/p>\n
The 50-year-old man, of south London, had been accused of twice arranging for someone to cut the girl with a razor as she lay on a mat in the hallway.<\/p>\n
He was also acquitted of five other charges at the Old Bailey, including child cruelty and wounding with intent.<\/p>\n
The man, originally from West Africa, had denied all of the accusations.<\/p>\n
The case is only the second FGM prosecution brought to court in the UK, both of which led to acquittals.<\/p>\n
During the trial, jurors were told the child could not recall the identity of the person who allegedly subjected her to the ordeal twice between 2010 and 2013.<\/p>\n
The girl said she cried in pain and begged for it to stop but her father just encouraged the cutter, the court heard.<\/p>\n
The allegations came to light after the girl told a friend, whose mother contacted Childline.<\/p>\n