He appeared before magistrates in Manchester on Tuesday
14:29, 09 Dec 2025Updated 14:30, 09 Dec 2025
Sultani Bakatash appeared in court on Tuesday(Image: PA)
An Afghan man accused of raping two 14 year-old girls was remanded in custody after appearing before a court for the first time on Tuesday. Sultani Bakatash, 28, is alleged to have sexually assaulted the girls inside a flat in Bolton last Saturday.
Bakatash appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, following the brief hearing via an interpreter of the Dari language, which is spoken in Afghanistan.
The court heard Bakatash has been in the UK for two years and has been granted indefinite leave to remain, together with his mother, two brothers and two sisters, who are also living in the UK.
Gabrielle Bann-Khellaf, prosecuting, opposed an application for bail made on behalf of the defendant by his solicitor, who refused to give her name to a reporter from the Press Association.
Mary Cash, chairwoman of the bench, refused the bail application. She told the defendant: “These are indictable only offences, so we are sending your case to the crown court at Bolton on the 13th of January, 2026.”
Greater Manchester Police(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Bakatash was arrested in the early hours of Sunday after police received a report of rape in the Middle Hulton area of the town. The defendant is also accused of one count of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration, all the alleged offences committed on December 6.
He had allegedly been in contact with the victims online before meeting them, Greater Manchester Police said. Both of the girls are now being supported by specialist teams while detectives investigate, the force said. Police said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the alleged incident.
Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley, Bolton district commander for GMP said: “This is a deeply concerning report, and our priority is supporting the two young girls and their families at this traumatic time. We have acted quickly since this was reported to us in the last 48 hours, and we’ve been using all available resources to understand what has happened and help this case progress through court.
“We remain firmly committed to protecting young girls in Bolton and across Greater Manchester and to help people feel safe in their neighbourhood. I ask that the public continue to support us while we do whatever is necessary to support the girls and to get this case solved.
“As criminal proceedings are now active, I urge the public not to speculate so that the legal process can take its proper course and the dignity of the girls is maintained.”