Two men have been jailed for 15 years each after barricading an intoxicated teenager in a room and raping her while filming the attack at an Airbnb property in 2019.
Hadi Khangheshlaghi, 25, and Armin Takhfifi, 26, both from Stockport, were convicted of two counts of rape each following what was described as a “violent and sustained” attack. The pair mocked their victim after the assault, and CCTV footage later showed the woman leaving the property visibly distressed, shaking and in tears.
Sentencing at Manchester Crown Court
The sentences were handed down at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday, November 10. Supporters and family members of the defendants reacted audibly in the public gallery, raising their hands and shouting out as the pair were each sentenced.
During the hearing, Judge Tom Gilbart dismissed a request from Takhfifi's defence barrister to delay sentencing so that a further assessment of his mental health could be carried out.
The attack and its aftermath
The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was visiting a friend in Manchester in 2019. She was 17 at the time, prosecutor Richard Littler KC told the court. A friend had invited them to a party at an Airbnb, and there was “discussion among the organisers” about “how many girls were going”. “Persistent” messages were sent to the friend “urging her to come and bring friends”.
The victim “consumed some alcohol and cannabis”, after which she “felt drowsy and wanted to sleep”. In a statement, she said: “Suddenly the world as I knew it was flipped upside down, at just 17 years old, the type of trauma I went through is something that I wish no other person should have to endure. The first stage was confusion, then shock, and then the realisation of what had happened to me was the very thing that completely stripped me of my dignity, identity, and sense of self – which was rape.”
She added: “I feel as though there is nothing that could possibly repair the damage and impact it has had on me going through such a traumatic event, but I am glad that justice has been served in this instance. I hope this positive outcome could encourage others to speak up too and spread awareness for anyone else who may be experiencing what I have been through. I want people to understand that the consequences of this incident extend far beyond the day it occurred. It has affected my wellbeing, my relationships, my independence and my ability to feel secure in my own life.”
Judge's account and sentencing details
Judge Gilbart described how the victim's friend entered the room, “called out” what the men were doing and said she was “too drunk” for it to be happening. “She was led from the room, at which you resumed the attack and took steps to block the door,” the judge told the defendants. “You were determined to finish the rape and have your way with her.”
“She remembers a torch shining in her face, filming her as she was assaulted. It was obvious she was intoxicated - that was what drove you to her. Her friend, showing tremendous determination and bravery, managed to get in again. The victim was only awoken by having water thrown at her face. This was a humiliating and degrading experience. The victim was crying but you were laughing and treated it as a joke.”
Armin Takhfifi, 26, of Wellington Road North, Stockport, and Hadi Khangheshlaghi, 25, of Alvanley Crescent, Stockport, were each sentenced to 15 years behind bars. Both men will be required to serve at least two-thirds of their sentences before becoming eligible for release on licence.
Passing sentence, Judge Tom Gilbart noted that both offenders are foreign nationals who hold indefinite leave to remain in the UK but are not British citizens. As a result, they could face automatic deportation proceedings once they have completed their custodial terms.
Upon their release, the pair will also be subject to notification requirements, meaning they must keep police informed of their home addresses and report any changes to their names. The court declined an application for restraining orders, with the judge noting there had been no contact with the victim and no further offending since the attack.
