A former PhD student has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit female genital mutilation against a young girl.

Emad Kaky, 47, made travel arrangements for the child to travel from the UK to Iraq where he had organised for the offence to take place.

He was convicted at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday by a jury which deliberated across two days following a two-week trial, making him the first person in England and Wales to be convicted of conspiracy to commit the offence, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The court heard that Kaky, from Swansea, had booked and paid for the trip to Iraq while he was living in Nottingham before his plans were discovered by a witness who reported him to the police.

This landmark case sends a strong message to offenders of this sickening crime – just because an offence has been committed somewhere else in the world does not stop you facing prosecution

Janine McKinney, chief crown prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said: “Female genital mutilation is an horrific crime to subject anyone to – let alone a child.

“This landmark case sends a strong message to offenders of this sickening crime – just because an offence has been committed somewhere else in the world does not stop you facing prosecution.

“We will explore every avenue in our pursuit to get justice for victims, wherever our legal test is met.”

Jaswant Narwal, CPS national lead for “honour”-based abuse, female genital mutilation and forced marriage, said: “Female genital mutilation is a form of violence against women and girls.

“There are many complexities involved in prosecuting this type of offending, which can be committed in close-knit communities, historically, and abroad, but this is no barrier to the CPS prosecuting wherever our legal test is met.

“We are clear there is no place for this unacceptable practice in society. We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to safeguard and support victims of FGM and bring perpetrators to justice.”

Judge Nirmal Shant KC remanded Kaky into custody until his sentencing on October 3 at the same court.