A JUDGE has lifted an order banning the identification of a paedophile who was knifed in the heart by his teenage victim.

Zabhullah Boota, the father of two young children, was found guilty of sexual assault and inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity in November 2010.

He was sentenced to a community order for abusing the young girl and allowed to return to his Bradford home in the neighbourhood where she still lived.

In October 2011, the Telegraph & Argus reported how the victim's mother was "sickened" that Boota was still living in the same area, nearly a year after his conviction.

At the time she said: "Her [the victim] innocence was taken away. She doesn't trust any adults, and a child shouldn't feel that way."

Yesterday, the girl whose life Boota destroyed was spared a custodial sentence for attacking him.

Boota's name could not be released as part of the initial report on her sentencing, but today Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC lifted a legal order, meaning he can now be identified.

The judge yesterday told the 15-year-old schoolgirl: “It would be a disgrace to send a survivor like you to prison.”

She was 14 when she thrust a large kitchen knife into Boota, 56, who sexually assaulted her when she was eight-years-old.

She felt the justice system had let her down when he harassed and bullied her after walking free from court.

In November last year, the girl, who cannot be identified, went round to the Boota’s home in Bradford with a knife.

Telling him: “I am going to kill you,” she plunged it into him in front of his two young children, prosecutor Heather Gilmore said.

The weapon entered Boota's chest wall and cut through the artery supplying blood to the right ventricle of his heart.

The man was saved by the swift intervention of paramedics and surgeons. He was in intensive care and needed a blood transfusion.

After stabbing her abuser, the girl hugged her aunt, said: “Tell my mum I love her,” and handed herself in at Trafalgar House Police station.

She said: “I’ve killed someone,” and immediately confessed to what she had done.

The teenager was originally charged with attempted murder but the Crown accepted her plea of guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Miss Gilmore said the girl had been “entirely destroyed” when Boota was not jailed for sexually assaulting her and inciting her to engage in sexual activity.

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Boota was given a community order after she had to give evidence at his trial because he denied the offences.

Afterwards, she was paranoid he was “going to get her.”

The girl was later excluded from school for poor behaviour. She feared she would never get a husband and she lived her life in a bad dream, the court heard.

Boota had been left in constant pain from the stab wound. He was permanently scarred and his children had been affected.

Elyas Patel, the girl’s barrister, said: “Rightly or wrongly, this 15-year-old felt that the justice system had let her down.

“With Your Honour at the wheel, the justice system will not fail her today.”

Mr Patel went on: “She was left deeply troubled and scarred. She acted in a few moments of despair and desperation.

“This is an exceptional case which requires an exceptional course.

“This deeply troubled and damaged child, bedevilled by low self esteem, is crying out for help.”

She had the unwavering support of her mother who knew her daughter needed ongoing support.

Judge Durham Hall sentenced the girl to a two year Youth Rehabilitation Order with supervision.

Refusing to order her to pay the mandatory victim surcharge, he told her: “If anyone tries to force you, I will pay it myself.”

Judge Durham Hall said the girl knifed Boota in the chest in his home in the presence of members of his family.

“You stabbed him in the region of his heart. Mercifully, you did not kill him.

“He was saved by excellent medical intervention and has made a pretty full recovery.”

The judge continued: “Why did you stab this man? Because when you were eight in 2009 he committed serious sexual offences against you.

“He was treated by the courts, with hindsight, somewhat leniently but things have changed. Now there is condign punishment in cases of this nature, in accordance with the guidelines.”

Wishing the child good luck, Judge Durham Hall assured her: “Things have changed.”