Seven men from four different countries have appeared in a Bristol court, facing more than 40 criminal charges related to the sexual exploitation of 11 teenage girls.
Detailed Charges and Nationalities
The defendants, aged between 19 and 22, include two Syrian men, two British men, one Iranian man, one Iraqi man and one Egyptian national. They appeared before District Judge Lynne Matthews at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, where all were remanded into custody.
None of the seven defendants entered pleas to the charges against them, nor did they apply for bail. They are scheduled to appear at Bristol Crown Court on December 17 for their next hearing.
Individual Charges and Allegations
The charges stem from alleged sexual offences committed against girls aged between 14 and 17 years old from 2022 to 2025. According to police, the investigation began in November 2023 after concerns were raised about the sexual exploitation of a teenage girl.
Syrian national Mohamed Arafe, 19, faces multiple charges including five counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, sexual assault, and being concerned in the supply of cocaine and ecstasy.
Iranian national Sina Omari, 20, is charged with two counts of rape, four counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, and making indecent photographs of a child, alongside drug supply charges.
Syrian national Wadie Sharaf, 21, faces charges including rape, attempted rape, three counts of sexual assault, and sexual activity with a child.
British national Hussain Bashar, 19, has been charged with one count of rape, while fellow British national Mohammed Kurdi, 21, faces two counts of rape and drug supply charges.
Iraqi national Sardam Ahmed, 19, is charged with four counts of rape, distributing an indecent photograph of a child, and drug supply offences.
Egyptian national Ihab Al-Eisawi, 22 (who told the court he is 22 despite police stating his age as 26), faces two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Police Investigation and Community Response
Detective Chief Inspector Tom Herbert, the senior investigating officer, described the case as a "complex and sensitive investigation" focused on protecting young girls from exploitation.
Initial arrests were made in April 2024, with suspects released on bail while a dedicated police team worked to identify and investigate offences. The men were re-arrested on Tuesday before their court appearance.
Bristol Superintendent Deepak Kenth revealed that the force is working with hotels, taxi drivers, and other businesses to raise awareness of exploitation signs and encourage reporting concerns to police.
James Bolton-Smith of the Crown Prosecution Service's Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit emphasised that proceedings against the suspects are active and they have the right to a fair trial, warning against any reporting that could prejudice the case.
