Afghan National Handed 14-Year Prison Sentence for Rape of Two Teenage Girls in Bolton

A 29-year-old man has received a 14-year custodial sentence after being convicted of raping two vulnerable 14-year-old schoolgirls at his apartment in Greater Manchester. Sultani Bakatash targeted the teenagers after encouraging them to consume dangerous amounts of alcohol, leaving them unable to defend themselves against his sexual assaults.

The sentencing took place at Bolton Crown Court following a trial that lasted four weeks, during which jurors heard distressing details surrounding the events. Bakatash, an Afghan national residing in the United Kingdom, was formally convicted of two counts of rape alongside single counts of sexual assault and assault by penetration.

The court was told that the interaction originated online after Bakatash connected with one of the girls via the social media application Snapchat. Following their digital exchanges, the defendant invited the girl and her friend to his residence situated at Georgina Court in Bolton on 6 December.

Once the teenagers arrived at the property, Bakatash provided them with a mixture of vodka and Coca-Cola, actively pushing them to keep drinking throughout the visit. While he urged the teenagers to consume the spirits and showered them with compliments regarding their appearance, he deliberately refrained from heavy drinking himself, consuming only a single sip of alcohol.

The two 14-year-old victims quickly became severely intoxicated under the influence of the high-strength spirits, drifting in and out of consciousness. The court heard that Bakatash exploited their incapacitated state to commit the serious sexual offences, with both girls subjected to attacks and each being forced to witness the other being sexually assaulted.

The ordeal came to an end when one of the teenagers managed to escape from the apartment to seek urgent assistance. Reaching a nearby resident's home, she knocked on a neighbour's door in extreme distress, alerting them that her friend was locked inside the flat and was actively being raped by the defendant.

Prosecuting barrister Charlotte Rimmer outlined the deliberate nature of the attack during legal proceedings, explaining that Bakatash had orchestrated the gathering with a clear predatory objective. The prosecutor stated that he arranged the meeting, facilitated their heavy intoxication, and subsequently seized on their helplessness as a man driven solely by the pursuit of sexual gratification without regard for their consent.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Kenderik Horne addressed Bakatash directly, stating with certainty that the defendant had applied physical force to overcome any resistance from the young victims. The judge highlighted that the deliberate provisioning of alcohol was a calculated move designed to ensure the teenagers would be rendered completely powerless to stop him.

Throughout the investigation and subsequent judicial process, Bakatash repeatedly shifted his account of the evening. He initially claimed that the underage victims had initiated the sexual encounter and given consent, before later asserting that memory loss prevented him from recalling what happened, and ultimately lying to the jury by denying that any sexual activity had taken place at all.

The severe repercussions of the offences were laid bare during the hearing, with the court learning that both victims have suffered lasting trauma. One of the girls has endured profound psychological harm, while the lasting emotional consequences of the assault on the second victim are expected to remain with her for the rest of her life.

A report compiled by the probation service highlighted that Bakatash refused to accept responsibility or acknowledge his criminal actions. Based on his lack of remorse and the circumstances of the offences, probation officials concluded that he continues to pose a significant and ongoing danger to women and young girls.

Following the attacks, Bakatash fled the Georgina Court property in an effort to evade law enforcement. His freedom was short-lived, as police officers located and arrested him two days later at an address belonging to his brother.

During mitigation, defence barrister Umar Shehzad provided background details regarding the defendant’s life and status within the country. The court heard that Bakatash had been living in the United Kingdom for two years under indefinite leave to remain, with several close family members—including his mother, two brothers, and two sisters—also residing in the country.

The defence explained that Bakatash had previously worked alongside the British Army in Afghanistan, during which time he had sustained bullet wounds and physical trauma. Shehzad noted that the defendant fled his home country out of legitimate fear following the Taliban's return to power in 2021, adding that he had found adjusting to life in a foreign society to be an overwhelming experience.

Under standard custodial guidelines, Bakatash will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his 14-year term before becoming eligible for release or potential deportation. However, Judge Horne noted that deportation proceedings may not ultimately be enforced due to his previous assistance to British military forces and his documented flight from Taliban persecution.