MONJUR CHOUDHURY AND NEWCASTLE'S DARK SECRETS: EXPOSED IN SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE CASES

A disturbing series of criminal activities involving the exploitation and abuse of young girls has come to light in Newcastle, revealing a deeply troubling network of predators operating within the city. Eighteen individuals have been convicted for their roles in a systematic campaign of sexual abuse, where vulnerable victims, some as young as 14, were manipulated with alcohol and drugs before being coerced into sexual acts.

These victims were targeted by what court descriptions have labeled a 'cynical organisation,' which exploited their vulnerabilities over a period spanning from 2011 to 2014. The defendants, comprising 17 men and one woman, faced charges including rape, supplying drugs, and conspiracy to incite prostitution. The legal proceedings involved four separate trials, during which testimonies from 20 young women detailed the extent of the abuse.

In total, 26 individuals were prosecuted, with over 100 charges laid against them. The victims, primarily from the Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Iraqi, Iranian, and Turkish communities, were mostly British-born residents of the West End of Newcastle. Of those charged, four have already been sentenced to prison, while the remaining defendants await sentencing scheduled for the following month.

During the court process, it was also revealed 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 accused men was friendly, but this trust was quickly shattered as they were lured into parties, often called 'sessions,' where alcohol and drugs, including mephedrone (commonly known as M-Kat), were readily available. Evidence presented in court showed bags of M-Kat left on coffee tables for the girls to help themselves, highlighting the premeditated nature of these gatherings.

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 recounted being raped three times at this location, illustrating the brutal reality of the abuse. Prosecutors described the victims as being passed between their abusers within an organized, systematic framework designed to exploit their vulnerabilities. Many victims testified that they were too intoxicated to resist or defend themselves, with some becoming addicted and feeling compelled to perform sexual acts in exchange for drugs.

One victim shared her experience of 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 scared, like a slave.' She recounted being told what she would have to do for money and drugs, with threats of violence if she refused. Another girl explained that she understood that if she wanted access to drugs or alcohol, she would have to comply with the demands of her abusers, often being too intoxicated to fight back. In one disturbing account, a victim described being locked in a room and told she could only leave if she engaged in sexual acts.

Northumbria Police launched Operation Sanctuary in December 2013 to investigate these allegations of sexual abuse against girls and young women. The ongoing investigation has resulted in 461 arrests, with police speaking to 703 potential complainants and identifying 278 victims. Due to the scale of the operation, it was divided into several spin-off investigations, including Operation Shelter, which uncovered groups of men in the West End of Newcastle exploiting vulnerable young women over a four-year period from 2010 to 2014.

This extensive investigation culminated in four separate trials, the first beginning in September 2015 and the most recent concluding recently, allowing previous reporting restrictions to be lifted. The case also shed light on systemic failures, including the dismissal of a police officer for neglecting to investigate a sex offender’s phone, related to an earlier phase of Operation Sanctuary. Police Chief Constable Steve Ashman emphasized that the force has adopted a zero-tolerance approach, asserting that there has been no political correctness in targeting these criminals and that all available resources have been employed to bring them to justice.

Among those convicted are several individuals with serious charges. Mohammed Azram, 35, from Croydon Road, was found guilty of conspiracy to incite prostitution, sexual assault, and supplying drugs to a victim. Jahangir Zaman, 43, of Hadrian Road, was convicted of similar conspiracy charges, along with rape and drug supply. Nashir Uddin, 35, from Joan Street, faced convictions for conspiracy to incite prostitution and drug supply. Saiful Islam, 34, of Strathmore Crescent, received a ten-year prison sentence after being convicted of rape.

Other notable convictions include Mohammed Hassan Ali, 33, of Bentinck Street, sentenced to seven years for sexual activity with a child and drug offenses; Abdulhamid Minoyee, 33, of Gainsborough Grove, convicted of rape, sexual assault, and drug supply; and Monjur Choudhury, 33, of Phillip Place, who was found guilty of conspiracy to incite prostitution and drug supply. The list continues with several other defendants, each linked to the organized exploitation network that preyed on vulnerable young women in Newcastle.

Sarah, a 19-year-old girl who was in local authority care, was among the victims. She 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 identify Minoyee’s residence and other locations where these 'sessions' occurred. Sarah’s testimony was a red flag, indicating that the abuse was part of a much larger and more organized operation.

Further investigations revealed that two girls in care, aged 14 and 15, had been repeatedly raped by groups of older Asian men. These girls described being driven into Newcastle, where they were given alcohol and cocaine before being assaulted and beaten by multiple men. They were then given money and returned home, illustrating the extent of the exploitation.

In response to these revelations, Newcastle City Council has initiated a serious case review, which is scheduled for publication in December. Council leader Nick Forbes condemned the crimes as 'vile' and praised the bravery of the victims, stating that their courage has contributed to making the city safer. Chief Constable Steve Ashman reaffirmed the police’s commitment to relentless pursuit of justice, emphasizing that there has been no hesitation in arresting those responsible and using all available means to combat such crimes.

As reporting restrictions are lifted, it has also been disclosed that a police officer was dismissed for failing to investigate a sex offender’s phone during an earlier phase of the operation. This failure was linked to the conviction of Bahmani Ahmadi, highlighting ongoing efforts to improve police diligence and accountability in tackling such serious crimes in Newcastle.