Four men jailed for 36 years over rape of Bristol teenager
Four Afghan men have been jailed for a combined total of 36 years after grooming and gang-raping a 17-year-old girl in Bristol in November 2024. The case drew particular attention when three of the offenders were caught on video laughing and celebrating their escape whilst attempting to flee the UK in the back of a lorry in December; they were apprehended by French authorities in Calais and subsequently returned to the UK for trial. The judge said the victim was left "broken beyond resistance" by the ordeal, which involved repeated sexual violence over several hours.
Mehrab Safi, 21, received the longest sentence of 15 years after being convicted of two counts of rape and one of human trafficking. Salman Habibkheil, 19, and Awal Ahmadzai, 19, were each sentenced to nine years for rape and human trafficking or sexual assault offences, whilst a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named, received three years for rape. The victim had been groomed via social media by Safi, who then arranged a taxi to transport her from Somerset to Bristol, where she was plied with alcohol and subjected to five rapes and one penetrative sexual assault.
- Four men jailed for total of 36 years for gang-raping 17-year-old girl in Bristol
- Suspects filmed themselves laughing whilst fleeing UK in lorry before capture in France
- Victim groomed online, plied with alcohol and raped repeatedly over hours
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This case involves the conviction and sentencing of four men for the rape and sexual exploitation of a 17-year-old girl in Bristol in November 2024. One of the men had groomed the victim through social media before arranging her transport from Somerset to Bristol, where she was given alcohol and subjected to multiple rapes and sexual assaults.
The four offenders—three adult men and one 17-year-old boy—received combined jail sentences of 36 years, ranging from three to 15 years each. The case gained additional attention when three of the men were filmed celebrating their escape whilst attempting to flee the country hidden in a lorry; they were intercepted by French authorities in Calais and returned to face trial in the UK.
This case illustrates a recognised pattern of group exploitation where young people are deliberately targeted through social media for sexual abuse. Such crimes result in severe trauma for victims and are prosecuted as serious offences, as reflected in the substantial prison sentences imposed.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Moment Afghan rapists laugh and joke while fleeing Britain in lorry after leaving girl, 17, ‘broken beyond resistance’ – as they are jailed for total of 36 years”.