Three men convicted of raping 17-year-old in Bristol

A Bristol Crown Court jury found three Afghan nationals—Mehrab Safi, Salman Habibkeil and Awal Ahmadzai—guilty of raping a 17‑year‑old girl after luring her to the city in November 2025. The defendants, along with a 17‑year‑old male accomplice, were convicted of multiple counts of rape, sexual assault and facilitating travel for exploitation. Detectives said the victim was drugged and assaulted over several hours in Safi’s St Werburghs home. All four denied the charges, but the jury delivered guilty verdicts. Sentencing is scheduled for 6 October 2026.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Cable praised the victim’s courage and emphasized that the convictions send a clear message that child sexual exploitation will be pursued aggressively.