Afghan men ‘fled UK in a lorry after raping teen’

THREE Afghan nationals fled the UK in the back of a lorry days after allegedly raping a teenage girl in Bristol, a jury heard.

- CLAIRE HAYHURST, ROD MINCHIN

Mehrab Safi, 21, Awal Ahmadzai and Salman Habibkheil, both 19, were discovered by the French authorities in Calais after escaping the UK.

Bristol Crown Court heard the three Afghans left the UK on December 3 last year - three days after they and a 16-year-old boy attacked a 17-year-old girl.

The jury was told police had traced the girl to a house in the St Werburghs area of Bristol and arrested the 16-year-old defendant when he answered the door to the property.

Edd Hetherington, prosecuting, said the three older co-accused fled the house as the police arrived and in the aftermath travelled to both Birmingham and London.

Mobile phone analysis showed they had also searched for news items in Bristol and for information about sexual activity with a teenage girl.

“At this point the three defendants are still at large giving the clearest possible indication that they are aware that they have done something very seriously wrong indeed” Mr Hetherington said.

“You might have heard reports from time to time about people concealing themselves in the back of a lorry and crossing the Channel.

“In a deeply unusual turn of events, the defendants Safi, Habibkheil and Ahmadzai, chose to use this mode of transportation to leave the UK rather than enter. Unfortunately for them, they were discovered by the French police in Calais at about 9pm on December 3.

“They were immediately returned to the UK under what is called the Gentleman's Agreement between the relevant authorities.