“They are dangerous individuals who pose a significant threat to young women and girls”

Pictured L-R Salman Habibkheil, Mehrab Safi, Awal Ahmadzai(Image: Avon and Somerset Constabulary)

These are the faces of three men who have been found guilty of grooming and raping a 17-year-old girl in Bristol.

Mehrab Safi, 21, Salman Habibkeil, 19, and Awal Ahmadzai, 19, were all involved in the rape of a girl after arranging for her to travel into Bristol.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his name, was also found guilty by a jury at Bristol Crown Court last Friday (June 16) after all four males denied the offences against them.

The victim met Safi in Bristol during a trip she made on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, to do some Christmas shopping with a friend.

Avon and Somerset Police said Safi tried to convince the victim and her friend to visit his house, offering them drugs and somewhere to charge their phones, but they refused and returned home.

Immediately after they left, Safi began messaging the victim and added her on Snapchat where the messaging continued and he asked her for indecent images.

Mehrab Safi: charged with two counts of rape and one count of arranging or facilitating the travel of a female with a view to exploitation (Image: Avon and Somerset Police )

Four days later, on November 29, in collaboration with Habibkheil, Safi arranged for the victim to be collected by a taxi and brought into Bristol.

From there, the girl was taken to Safi’s house in the St Werburghs area of the city and was given alcohol until she became drunk.

She was then sexually assaulted and raped by the four defendants over the course of several hours.

On the morning of November 30, the victim’s mum contacted the police to report her missing.

Police then attended Safi’s house a short while later and the victim was located along with the 17-year-old boy.

The victim reported the rapes to an attending officer and the 17-year-old was arrested.

The three men fled the house when police arrived but were arrested a few days later after they were stopped having travelled into France and brought back to the UK.

The court heard both Habibkheil’s and Ahmadzai’s phones were used to search for news about the incident online and about police and court procedures for offences of the nature they had committed.

Salman Habibkheil: charged with one count of rape and one count of arranging or facilitating the travel of a female with a view to exploitation (Image: Avon and Somerset Police )

The four Afghan nationals were all subsequently charged with the following offences:

  • Safi, of St Werburghs, whose self-defined ethnicity is “any other Asian background”, was charged with two counts of rape and one count of arranging or facilitating the travel of a female with a view to exploitation
  • Habibkheil, of Lockleaze, whose self-defined ethnicity is “any other Black background”, was charged with one count of rape and one count of arranging or facilitating the travel of a female with a view to exploitation
  • Ahmadzai, of no fixed address, whose self-defined ethnicity is “any other Asian background”, was charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault
  • The 17-year-old boy, was charged with one count of rape

They all denied the offences, claiming it had been consensual sexual activity, but the jury at Bristol Crown Court found them guilty of each offence.

Awal Ahmadzai: charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault (Image: Avon and Somerset Police )

They will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, October 6.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Cable, the senior investigating officer, said: “These four people exploited a vulnerable young girl purely for the purposes of their own sexual gratification.

“They are dangerous individuals who pose a significant threat to young women and girls and gave not a single thought to the welfare of the victim.

“This has been a complex investigation and credit goes to the officer in the case and all the officers and staff involved in ensuring we built a solid case to put before the court.

“These convictions all send a clear message: perpetrators of child sexual exploitation will be tracked down and face justice.”

‘It was clear throughout that she did not consent’

Detective Sergeant Jo Babbage, the deputy senior investigating officer, said: “It’s impossible to overstate the courage the victim has shown these last seven months.

“The horrendous offences committed against her were calculated and a complete breach of trust.

“Her bravery in recounting that abuse is truly admirable and that extraordinary strength has ensured these four people will now face justice.”

The victim continues to be supported by a specially trained engagement officer and that support will continue as long as it may be needed.

Sally Helliwell of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The young victim in this case was targeted, groomed, and then lured to an unfamiliar city, miles from home in the dead of night.

“Isolated and alone, she was plied with alcohol and then raped and abused over several hours by four different people. It was clear throughout that she did not consent.

“Thankfully the three men who fled in such a cowardly manner were swiftly returned to the UK to face justice.

“The CPS is committed to delivering justice for the victims of rape and sexual abuse, and I would encourage all victims to come forward to report offences to the police, so they can be investigated.”