Men found guilty over rape and sexual exploitation of 16-year-old girl
Four men convicted for their roles in teenager’s horrific ordeal
Last updated 20th Dec 2025
Four men have been convicted following the rape and sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old girl in Birmingham, Walsall and Manchester.
The girl was subjected to a series of traumatic incidents after being approached by two men in a BMW while she was on Alum Rock Road in Birmingham.
Arqash Zaffar asked for her phone number, but she declined and continued on a nearby bus. However, the same men approached her again days later in the same car on the same road and persuaded her to get in, offering her a ride to the city centre.
Zaffar drove her to a secluded area where both he and Mohammed Nadim sexually assaulted her inside the vehicle.
Afterwards, she was driven to Walsall, during which her phone was connected to the car's sound system. The connection later helped identify the vehicle during the investigators' enquiries.
Taken to Manchester for further abuse
While in Walsall, Zaffar picked up Shahban Arif, an associate, and together they drove the girl to Manchester. There, they met another associate, Shiraz Nassir, who joined them on the journey to his home in Denton.
It was in Nassir's home that the girl was raped again, this time by both Zaffar and Nassir.
More attacks documented during investigation
Following these events, Zaffar and Arif transported her back to Walsall, where a hotel room had been booked by Arif. Despite providing false details, Arif used identifying information such as his vehicle registration and driver's licence, which were later used in the investigation.
Inside the hotel, Zaffar subjected the girl to further abuse, with Arif still present.
The girl was then driven back to Birmingham. While there, Zaffar offered another associate the opportunity to join them and showed him a hotel key, but this individual declined.
Later that evening, Zaffar took the girl to another hotel room, where she described being forced to enter a room with four other unidentified men, who then raped her one by one.
Investigation, convictions and support
The girl bravely reported what had happened to the police, and officers worked tirelessly, using evidence such as phone and hotel records, vehicle insurance information, and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) data to identify those involved.
A jury found Arqash Zaffar, 41, of Persehouse Street, Walsall, guilty of five counts of rape, causing the child to engage in sexual activity without consent on four occasions and also facilitating travel with a view to sexually exploit the child.
Shiraz Nassir, 40, of Fir Road, Greater Manchester, was found guilty of rape.
Mohammed Nadim, 45, of Holtshill Lane, Walsall, was found guilty of sexual assault.
Shaban Arif, 42, of Holden Crescent, Walsall, was found guilty of facilitating travel of the child with a view of sexual exploitation.
Detective Constable Stewart Garratt from the Public Protection Unit expressed his support for the teenage survivor, saying:
"This has been a complex investigation, it involved a number of enquiries, working in partnership with other agencies and importantly support for this child, she is commended for her bravery, I'm so pleased with these convictions for her in particular."
DC Garratt added: "These males took advantage of a clearly vulnerable teenager, what she experienced was deeply traumatic.
"She found the strength to report this and specialist child abuse officers worked extremely hard to identify these men, and in doing so have got justice for her."
All four men are currently remanded in custody and are due to face sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court on 19th March 2026.