Three Afghans jailed in UK for raping, trafficking 17-year-old girl; defendants fled to France after attack

A court in Bristol, United Kingdom, has sentenced three Afghan nationals to lengthy prison terms for the rape and sexual assault Afghan

ISLAMABAD, Oct 08 (APP): A court in Bristol, United Kingdom, has sentenced three Afghan nationals to lengthy prison terms for the rape and sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl, while a fourth defendant, aged 17, was also detained in connection with the case.

Bristol Crown Court heard that Mehrab Safi, 21, Salman Habibkheil, 19, Awal Ahmadzai, 19, and the 17-year-old defendant, whose identity cannot legally be disclosed, attacked the teenage girl at a house in Bristol in November last year.

According to the case presented before the court, the victim was taken to the house and given alcohol before being subjected to sexual assault and rape over a period of several hours. The court also found that she had been trafficked for the purpose of committing a sexual offence.

The case took another turn after three of the defendants left the United Kingdom following the attack. Safi, Habibkheil and Ahmadzai reportedly fled the country in December 2025 by concealing themselves in the back of a lorry bound for France.

The three defendants allegedly recorded themselves celebrating their escape after leaving the UK. However, their attempt to evade British authorities came to an end when they were arrested by French authorities in Calais. They were subsequently returned to the United Kingdom to face legal proceedings.

Safi received the longest sentence, with Bristol Crown Court sentencing him to 15 years in prison for two counts of rape and one count of human trafficking.

Habibkheil was sentenced to nine years in detention after being convicted of rape and human trafficking. Ahmadzai was also handed a nine-year sentence after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.

The 17-year-old defendant was sentenced to three years in detention for rape.

During sentencing, Judge Michael Cullum described the victim as “obviously vulnerable” and said the defendants had taken advantage of her vulnerability. The court proceedings highlighted the serious nature of the offences and the circumstances in which the teenage victim was targeted and assaulted.

The case has also triggered wider debate in Britain over crime, illegal migration and the challenges faced by European authorities in dealing with individuals accused of serious offences while residing in or entering their countries unlawfully.

An analyst cited in a media report said that cases involving Afghan nationals accused of serious crimes in different countries had contributed to public concerns over security and immigration. The analyst alleged that crimes associated with some illegal migrants included murder, rape, sexual assault, harassment, drug trafficking, robbery, theft, assault, kidnapping, extortion and organised criminal activity.

The analyst said such cases had contributed to growing public anger and social resentment in parts of Europe. According to the analyst, sections of the public are calling on European governments to take stronger action against individuals involved in serious criminal activity while also seeking longer-term measures to address illegal migration.

The Bristol case has renewed attention on the protection of vulnerable victims, human trafficking and the need for authorities to ensure that individuals accused of serious offences cannot evade justice by fleeing across international borders.