A MUM has become the first person in the UK to be convicted of female genital mutilation after trying to "shut up" accusers with witchcraft.

The 37-year-old claimed she had never heard of FGM before her three-year-old child was hurt.

But she had spells hidden inside 40 frozen limes and two ox tongues with screws embedded in them.

The bizarre spells and curses were aimed at blocking police and social workers from investigating after she was accused of cutting her daughter over the 2017 summer bank holiday.

The Ugandan mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also owned a two-page "court spell" document featuring the names of her children and others involved in her case.

She was today found guilty of FGM at the Old Bailey in a legal first for the UK after less than a day of jury deliberations.

Her Ghanaian partner, 43, was cleared of FGM and an alternative charge of failing to protect a girl from risk of genital mutilation.

More to follow...