THREE AFGHAN MEN GUILTY OF GROOMING AND RAPING GIRL
Three Afghan nationals have been convicted of grooming and sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl before fleeing the UK in the back of a truck.Mehrab Safi, aged 21, along with Awal Ahmadzai and Salman Habibkheli, both aged 19, were found guilty of multiple offenses against the girl at a residence in Bristol’s St Werburghs area during the early hours of November 30.
Shortly after, law enforcement in France arrested them in Calais.
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to legal restrictions, was also convicted of rape.
Avon and Somerset Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Matt Cable described the individuals as dangerous, emphasizing their direct threat to young women and girls.
He stated, “These individuals exploited a vulnerable young girl solely for their own sexual satisfaction.” Safi, from St Werburghs, was convicted of human trafficking and two counts of rape.
Habibkheli, from Lockleaze, received convictions for human trafficking and rape.
Ahmadzai, from Redcliffe, was found guilty of rape and assault by penetration.
The jury reached their verdict after two days of deliberation at Bristol Crown Court.
During the trial, it was revealed that the girl had been shopping at Cabot Circus with a friend when she first met Safi and exchanged contact details, five days before the assaults.
Prosecutor Ed Hetherington explained that Safi groomed the girl through Snapchat and requested nude photos.
He arranged for a taxi to take her from Somerset to Safi’s house in St Werburghs early on November 30.
Hetherington criticized how digital platforms have altered young people's dating behaviors, describing her cooperation with Safi’s requests as “a very sad indictment.” The girl was prepared for sex shortly after arriving but refused, and was intoxicated with alcohol and cigarettes before being raped by Safi and Habibkheli.
Once she fell asleep, Ahmadzai assaulted her, followed by the 17-year-old boy.
Later that morning, Safi sexually assaulted her again.
Police found the girl, who was reported missing by her mother, at the house, where she expressed her desire to leave, saying, “I just wanted to go home, I didn’t feel safe.” The arresting officers initially detained the boy at the scene, but the three men escaped, traveling through Birmingham and London before leaving the UK.
The escape was unusual, with evidence suggesting they thought they had “got away with it,” based on footage from Safi's phone showing the men laughing in the back of the truck.
They were eventually caught by French authorities in Calais and returned to the UK.
Safi denied the initial consensual encounter and claimed the later rape did not occur.
Habibkheli said the girl had invited him upstairs willingly, and Ahmadzai denied the third rape, asserting that the events were consensual.
Detective Sergeant Jo Babbage praised the girl’s bravery in recounting her ordeal, emphasizing the breach of trust involved.
Sally Helliwell from the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted her vulnerability and the trauma inflicted over several hours by multiple offenders.
Judge Michael Cullum indicated that the adult defendants would face immediate custodial sentences, while considering the appropriate length of imprisonment.
The 17-year-old boy was released on conditional bail with a curfew.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 6.
