EISA MOUSAVI AND NEWCASTLE'S WEST END: SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE AND DRUG RING EXPOSED

A disturbing case of organized sexual exploitation and drug distribution has come to light in Newcastle, where 18 individuals have been convicted for their roles in abusing vulnerable young girls. The victims, some as young as 14, were systematically targeted by a calculated and ruthless organization that exploited their innocence through alcohol and illicit drugs before coercing them into sexual acts.

During a series of four separate trials, the court heard harrowing testimonies from 20 young women, recounting abuse spanning from 2011 to 2014. The defendants, comprising 17 men and one woman, faced over 100 charges collectively, including rape, supplying drugs, conspiracy to incite prostitution, and trafficking. The accused hailed from diverse backgrounds, including Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Iraqi, Iranian, and Turkish communities, with most residing in the West End of Newcastle. Out of the 26 individuals prosecuted, four have already been sentenced to prison, while the remaining defendants await sentencing scheduled for next month.

An alarming revelation during the court proceedings was that police had paid a convicted child rapist, Bahmani Ahmadi, a sum of £10,000 as an informant, raising questions about the integrity of the investigation. The victims initially believed the attention from the men was friendly, but this trust was exploited as they were lured to parties, often called 'sessions,' where alcohol and drugs, notably mephedrone (commonly known as M-Kat), were readily available. Evidence presented showed bags of M-Kat left openly on coffee tables, encouraging the girls to help themselves.

The parties took place at various locations around the West End, including the top floor of a tower block known as Todd's Nook. One teenage girl testified that she was raped three times at this location. Prosecutors described the victims as being passed around within a cynical, organized network, where their vulnerability was exploited systematically. Many victims were too intoxicated to resist, and some became addicted, feeling compelled to perform sexual acts in exchange for drugs. One victim recounted attending approximately 60 parties, while another described being taken to an address where she encountered two older men and a woman who appeared frightened and submissive, warning that they would be beaten if they disobeyed.

Another victim revealed that she understood that to obtain drugs or alcohol, she would have to engage in sexual acts. She recounted being too intoxicated to fight off an attacker, who once locked the door, telling her she could only leave if she had sex. The scale of the abuse prompted Northumbria Police to launch Operation Sanctuary in December 2013, an extensive investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against girls and young women. To date, the operation has resulted in 461 arrests, with police speaking to 703 potential complainants and identifying 278 victims.

The investigation was divided into several branches due to its complexity. One such branch, Operation Shelter, uncovered groups of men in the West End of Newcastle, many of whom knew each other, who exploited young women over a period from 2010 to 2014. This led to multiple trials, the first beginning in September 2015, culminating in the recent trial that has now concluded, allowing previous reporting restrictions to be lifted.

Among the victims was Sarah, a 19-year-old girl in local authority care, who was described as extremely vulnerable and unable to care for herself. In early 2014, she reported to police that she had been raped by Abdul Minoyee. A police officer then conducted a tour of the West End to locate Minoyee’s residence and the locations where these 'sessions' occurred. Sarah’s testimony was a red flag, indicating a much larger scale of abuse. Her information was corroborated days later when two other girls in care, aged 14 and 15, reported being repeatedly raped by a group of older Asian men. These girls described being driven into Newcastle, intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine, then assaulted and beaten by multiple men before being returned home with money.

One of these victims was in local authority care at the time, prompting Newcastle City Council to initiate a serious case review, which is expected to be published in December. Council leader Nick Forbes condemned the crimes, calling them 'vile' and praising the victims for their bravery, emphasizing that their courage has contributed to making the city safer. Chief Constable Steve Ashman reaffirmed the police’s commitment to relentless pursuit of justice, stating that there has been no political correctness in their approach and that all efforts have been made to arrest and prosecute those responsible.

In a related development, it was revealed that a police officer was dismissed for failing to investigate a sex offender’s phone during an earlier phase of Operation Sanctuary. This failure was linked to the conviction of Bahmani Ahmadi, highlighting ongoing issues within the police force’s handling of such cases. Chief Constable Ashman expressed that the dismissal should serve as reassurance that the police culture in Northumbria has evolved.

The list of convicted individuals includes notable names such as Mohammed Azram, Jahangir Zaman, Nashir Uddin, Saiful Islam, Mohammed Hassan Ali, Yasser Hussain, Abdul Sabe, Habibur Rahim, Badrul Hussain, Mohibur Rahman, Abdulhamid Minoyee, Carolann Gallon, Monjour Choudhury, Prabhat Nelli, Eisa Mousavi, Taherul Alam, Nadeem Aslam, and Redwan Siddquee. Their sentences range from several years in prison to periods of probation, reflecting the severity of their crimes and the organized nature of the abuse network in Newcastle’s West End.