Afghan National Given 14-Year Prison Sentence for Rape of Two Teenage Girls in Bolton

A 29-year-old man has been handed a 14-year custodial sentence after being convicted of raping and sexually assaulting two 14-year-old girls whom he plied with alcohol inside his Greater Manchester apartment.

Sultani Bakatash, an Afghan national residing at Georgina Court in Bolton, initially connected with one of the young victims through the social media platform Snapchat before arranging for her and a companion to visit his residence on 6 December.

Once the teenagers arrived, the court was told, Bakatash provided them with a mixture of vodka and Coca-Cola, actively encouraging them to consume dangerous amounts of alcohol while barely drinking any himself.

During the gathering, Bakatash engaged in sustained flattery, repeatedly complimenting the two underage girls on their appearance while pushing them to continue drinking as he took only occasional sips from his own glass.

The high volume of spirits consumed caused both 14-year-olds to become severely incapacitated, repeatedly drifting into and out of consciousness on the premises before the sexual attacks took place.

Bolton Crown Court heard that the situation escalated into violence, with each of the young victims forced to witness the other being subjected to rape and sexual assault while unable to defend themselves due to extreme intoxication.

The ordeal came to an end when one of the teenagers managed to break away from the flat and sought emergency assistance by knocking on a neighbour's door in extreme distress.

According to evidence presented during the proceedings, the terrified girl alerted the resident that her friend was trapped inside the residence, pleading that the defendant was locked in the room and actively carrying out an assault against her.

Prosecuting barrister Charlotte Rimmer outlined the deliberate nature of the offending, telling the jury that Bakatash had orchestrated the meeting, facilitated the girls' state of heavy intoxication, and ruthlessly exploited their vulnerability for his own sexual gratification without regard for their lack of consent.

Presiding over the four-week trial, Judge Kenderik Horne concluded that Bakatash had intentionally utilized alcohol as a weapon to incapacitate the girls and applied physical force to overcome any remaining physical resistance they could muster.

The judge observed during sentencing that the defendant deliberately ensured the two victims became so heavily intoxicated that they were entirely stripped of the capacity to prevent him from carrying out the sexual violations.

Throughout the legal process, Bakatash offered shifting and contradictory accounts to investigators and the court, initially claiming the teenagers had initiated and consented to sexual relations, before stating he suffered from memory loss, and ultimately denying that any sexual contact had occurred at all.

Judge Horne firmly rejected these fabrications, noting that the jury had seen through Bakatash's deceitful claims when reaching their unanimous guilty verdicts on two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault, and one count of assault by penetration.

The court heard devastating details regarding the aftermath of the attacks, noting that one victim has suffered severe psychological trauma, while the profound emotional and psychological repercussions for the second teenager will persist throughout her lifetime.

A formal evaluation compiled by the probation service underscored the continuing danger posed by the defendant, revealing that Bakatash refused to accept responsibility for his criminal actions and remains classified as a high risk to women and girls.

Following the incident, Bakatash fled the Georgina Court property in an attempt to evade authorities, remaining at large for two days until law enforcement officers tracked him down and arrested him at his brother's residence.

The court heard that Bakatash had lived in the United Kingdom for two years, holding indefinite leave to remain alongside several close family members who reside in the country, including his mother, two brothers, and two sisters.

In mitigation, defence counsel Umar Shehzad presented details of Bakatash’s past in Afghanistan, stating the defendant had sustained a gunshot injury while working alongside the British Army prior to fleeing his homeland amid fear following the Taliban's return to power in 2021.

The defence further submitted that the transition to life in the UK had left the defendant feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of adapting to a foreign society and culture.

Addressing the potential for future deportation, Judge Horne explained that while foreign offenders are typically eligible for deportation after serving two-thirds of their prison term, Bakatash's previous cooperation with the British military and his flight from Taliban persecution could prevent authorities from returning him to Afghanistan.