Four men have been found guilty of a series of horrific sexual attacks on a vulnerable 16-year-old girl who had run away from home in the West Midlands.
A calculated lure and initial assault
The teenager's ordeal began when she accepted a lift from Arqash Zaffar and Mohammed Nadim in Birmingham. The men lured the girl into their vehicle before driving to a secluded area, where she was first sexually assaulted in the back of the car.
She was then taken to Walsall before being transported to Manchester. There, the group met an associate, Shiraz Nassir. At a property in Denton, both Zaffar and Nassir raped the young victim.
Hotel room booked for exploitation
The group returned to Walsall, where a hotel room had been booked by Shaban Arif specifically to facilitate further abuse. Arif used his own driving licence and vehicle details to book the room, actions which later provided crucial evidence for police.
Inside the hotel room, Zaffar continued to abuse the girl while Arif remained present. In a shocking attempt to further exploit the victim, Zaffar later tried to "sell" access to her to other associates, brandishing a hotel key as proof. Those he approached reportedly declined.
Traumatic climax and digital investigation
The abuse reached a devastating peak when the girl was taken to another hotel room where four unknown men were waiting. She was raped by each of these four men in succession during that same evening.
West Midlands Police launched a major investigation, piecing together the case through extensive digital evidence. Detectives used:
- Phone records
- Hotel booking details
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data
This evidence was pivotal in identifying and tracking the perpetrators' movements across Birmingham, Walsall, and Manchester.
Convictions and commendation for bravery
Following a trial, the jury returned guilty verdicts for all four men. Arqash Zaffar was found guilty of five counts of rape, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and facilitating travel for sexual exploitation.
Shiraz Nassir and Mohammed Nadim were convicted of rape and sexual assault, while Shaban Arif was found guilty of facilitating the crime.
All four have been remanded in custody and are awaiting sentencing, scheduled for March 2026.
Detective Constable Stewart Garratt praised the victim's "immense bravery" in reporting the crimes and providing testimony. Specialist officers are ensuring she receives ongoing support to help her recover from the trauma.
