'Vulnerable teen raped in hotel room'

RUNAWAY WAS EXPLOITED OVER A NUMBER OF DAYS, COURT TOLD

- CARL JACKSON News Reporter

A “vulnerable” 16-year-old girl who had run away from home was repeatedly raped in a hotel room full of men, a court heard.

Arqash Zaffar, nicknamed 'Mikey, has been accused of picking up the girl in his car in Birmingham and exploiting her over a number of days during the summer of 2019.

It is alleged his friend Shiraz Nassar, known as 'Soldier, also raped her after she was taken to his home in Manchester while another associate Mohammed Nadim, aka 'Dimma, allegedly sexually assaulted the girl in the back of a car.

A fourth defendant Shahban Arif, identified as a man with a 'ratlike face, was said to have been involved in her exploitation by booking a hotel room in Walsall where she was attacked.

All four men stand trial at Birmingham Crown Court denying various offences.