NADEEM ASLAM AND NEWCASTLE'S WEST END: SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE AND DRUG RING EXPOSED

A disturbing series of criminal activities involving the exploitation of young girls has come to light in Newcastle, revealing a deeply troubling pattern of abuse orchestrated by a group of individuals from diverse communities. Eighteen people, including Nadeem Aslam, have been convicted for their roles in a systematic operation that targeted vulnerable girls, some as young as 14, by luring them into parties where they were given alcohol and drugs before being subjected to sexual assault.

These victims were manipulated by what court descriptions have labeled a 'cynical organisation,' which exploited their vulnerabilities over a period spanning from 2011 to 2014. The court heard that the group, comprising 17 men and one woman, engaged in a range of criminal acts including rape, drug distribution, and conspiracy to facilitate prostitution. Over the course of four separate trials, testimonies from 20 young women detailed the extent of the abuse, with evidence covering a timeline of several years.

The defendants hailed from various ethnic backgrounds, including Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Iraqi, Iranian, and Turkish communities. Most of them were born in Britain and resided primarily in the West End of Newcastle. Out of the 26 individuals prosecuted, four have already been sentenced to prison, while the remaining defendants are awaiting sentencing scheduled for the following month.

During the court proceedings, it was also revealed that police had paid a convicted child rapist, Bahmani Ahmadi, a sum of £10,000 as an informant, raising questions about the integrity of the investigation. The victims initially believed the men’s attention was friendly, but this perception quickly turned sinister as they were lured to 'sessions'—parties held at various locations around the West End, including the top floor of the tower block known as Todd's Nook. One teenage girl recounted being raped three times at this location.

The prosecution described the victims as being passed between different abusers within an organized, systematic framework designed to exploit their vulnerabilities. Many victims testified that they were too intoxicated to resist or defend themselves, while others became addicted to drugs and felt compelled to perform sexual acts in exchange for substances. One victim revealed she had attended approximately 60 parties, illustrating the scale of the exploitation.

Another girl recounted an experience at an address where she encountered two older men and a woman who appeared frightened and submissive, describing a situation where they were told what they would do for money and drugs, or face violence. A different victim explained that she understood that if she wanted drugs or alcohol, she would have to comply with sexual demands, often being too intoxicated to fight off her abuser. In one instance, she was told she could only leave if she engaged in sex, highlighting the coercive environment.

In response to these crimes, Northumbria Police launched Operation Sanctuary in December 2013, an extensive investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against girls and young women in Newcastle. The operation remains ongoing, having resulted in 461 arrests, with police speaking to 703 potential complainants and identifying 278 victims to date. Due to the investigation's scale, it was divided into several sub-operations, including Operation Shelter, which uncovered groups of men in the West End who exploited young women over a four-year period.

This investigation led to multiple trials, the first beginning in September 2015 and the most recent concluding recently, allowing previous reporting restrictions to be lifted. Among the victims was Sarah, a 19-year-old girl described as extremely vulnerable and unable to care for herself. In early 2014, she reported being raped by Abdul Minoyee, prompting police to conduct a detailed investigation that included touring the West End to locate Minoyee’s residence and other locations where parties had taken place.

Sarah’s testimony was a red flag, indicating a much larger scale of abuse. Her information was corroborated days later when two girls in care, aged 14 and 15, reported being repeatedly raped by groups of older Asian men. These girls described being driven into Newcastle, intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine, then assaulted and beaten by multiple men before being returned home with money exchanged for their silence.

One of these victims was in local authority care at the time, prompting Newcastle City Council to initiate a serious case review, which is scheduled for publication in December. Council leader Nick Forbes condemned the crimes, calling them 'vile' and praising the victims for their bravery, asserting that their courage has contributed to making the city safer.

Chief Constable Steve Ashman emphasized the police’s relentless pursuit of justice, stating, 'We have not and will not stop. There has been no political correctness here. These are criminals and there has been no hesitation in arresting them and targeting them using all the means at our disposal.'

In a related development, it was disclosed that a police officer was dismissed for failing to investigate a sex offender’s phone during an earlier phase of Operation Sanctuary, which had led to the conviction of Bahmani Ahmadi. Mr. Ashman assured that this dismissal reflects a shift in police culture towards greater diligence and accountability.

Regarding the convictions, Nadeem Aslam, of Belle Grove West, aged 43, was found guilty of supplying drugs to victims, adding to the list of offenders involved in this heinous network. Other notable convictions include Saiful Islam, jailed for ten years for rape, and Abdulhamid Minoyee, sentenced for rape, sexual assault, and drug supply. The court also sentenced several others for conspiracy to incite prostitution, trafficking, and related offenses, illustrating the extensive reach of this criminal enterprise in Newcastle’s West End.