Teenage Afghan asylum seekers who kidnapped and raped a 15-year-old girl sentenced

Two teenage Afghan asylum seekers who abducted and raped a 15-year-old girl have been given custodial sentences.

Jan Jahanzeb and Israr Niazal, both 17, face possible deportation and were ordered to register as sex offenders following the sentencing at Warwick crown court on Monday. 

The court heard the two boys had led the highly distressed girl into a “den-type” area in Leamington Spa in May before pushing her to the ground and attacking her.

Judge De Bertodano said they had “robbed” the victim of her childhood and nothing could be done to restore this. “What you two did on that evening changed [the victim’s] life for ever,” she said. 

An impact statement read on behalf of the victim said: “The day I was raped changed me as a person. Every time I go out I don’t feel safe. So much so that I’ve started to avoid it all together. This has also impacted my education and school life at the worst possible time.”

A statement read on behalf of the victim’s mother said: “We have watched our vibrant happy and confident [daughter] shrink down and suffer with anxiety so bad that she’s often physically sick. This has affected every aspect of [my daughter’s] life and anything that hurts one of us, hurts us all in our family.”

The boys pleaded guilty to rape at an earlier hearing.

The court sentenced Jahanzeb, who has been served with deportation papers due to his age at the time of his guilty plea, to a youth detention term of 10 years and eight months.

Niazal was sentenced to nine years and 10 months. As he was 16 at the time of the guilty plea, the judge invited the government to recommend deportation.

The pair will start their sentences at a young offender institution and move to prison at a later date. They were also made to sign the sex offender register for life and given an indefinite restraining order.

The judge lifted reporting restrictions protecting the identities of the defendants, who she said had “betrayed” those who come to Britain seeking sanctuary and observe the laws of this country.

“A lack of information stokes public anger and leads to the unchecked spread of false information,” the judge said.

At the trial, the court heard that both teenagers had arrived in the UK from Afghanistan as unaccompanied child asylum seekers. Jahanzeb came to the UK in January this year, while Niazal arrived in November 2024.

Footage taken by the victim was shown in court and was described by the judge as “highly distressing”. In the video, the victim could be heard crying and shouting for help.

Another video taken after the incident by the victim showed her crying, screaming for help and detailing the offences.

DCI Richard Hobbs of Warwickshire police said: “This was a hugely traumatic incident, and I can’t speak highly enough of the victim for the bravery she has shown.

“Jahanzeb and Niazal went out of their way to befriend the victim with the intention of raping her. The length of their sentence reflects the severity of their crime and the need to protect the public from them.”