Jahn Shahid Ghani

Jahn Shahid Ghani, a care worker supporting vulnerable people, was over 30 when he exploited two girls aged 14 to 15 in Rochdale. The official sentencing remarks indicate that he knew Girl A was particularly vulnerable even before meeting her, as his younger half-brother Mohammed Ghani had given him her number. Judge Tina Landale concluded that he had taken the exploitation to 'another level': he groomed both girls, supplied large quantities of Class A drugs to lower their inhibitions, arranged group sex situations, encouraged Girl A to engage in sexual acts she did not want, and exploited both girls over several months. He was more than twice their age and was working with vulnerable adults at the time. Ghani was the only defendant at the trial to give evidence. He admitted having sexual relations, including while under the influence of ecstasy, and threesomes involving adult women, but maintained that he believed the girls were at least 16 and described them as 'friends with benefits'. The judge expressly rejected as untruthful his account that he had met Girl A by chance without knowing that his brother was exploiting her, and concluded that he knew they were children. On 31 October 2023, he received a total sentence of 20 years' imprisonment for offences against two victims.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Directly implicated

Ghani was the only defendant to give evidence at the 2023 trial. He admitted sexual intercourse and several threesomes but claimed that he regarded the two complainants as 'friends with benefits' and believed them to be above the age of consent.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Ghani was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. The court provided that he would serve half the sentence in custody before release on licence. He was also made subject to lifetime notification requirements, disqualified from certain activities involving children and vulnerable adults, and made subject to a restraining order protecting the victims.

State of the evidence

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Accused

GMP charged Jahn Shahid Ghani with 17 offences, including rape, sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. At the April court appearance, no formal plea was entered and he was granted conditional bail.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Accused

The judge rejected the account that Ghani had met Girl A by chance. She concluded that he had obtained her number from his half-brother Mohammed Ghani and knew she was particularly vulnerable before he even met her.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused

Ghani, then in his thirties, collected Girl A from school while she was still wearing her uniform. The victim regarded him as a close friend; the judge concluded that he had used this apparent friendship to exploit her sexually.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused

The judge found that Ghani had engaged in penetrative sexual intercourse with both teenagers on several occasions over several months, sometimes separately and sometimes in group settings.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused

The judge concluded that Ghani had introduced Girl A to substantial quantities of Class A drugs to lower her inhibitions and fulfil his fantasies of group sexual activity.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

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Accused

Girl A described threesomes involving Ghani and adults known to him. The judge found that he had pressured and encouraged her to participate in sexual activities she did not want, including with an adult woman.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused

The judge established that Ghani had also exploited Girl B, facilitating her use of Class A drugs to encourage her to have intercourse with him, either alone or with Girl A.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused

The judge found a substantial degree of planning: Ghani took the children to different addresses, coordinated group sexual encounters with other individuals, supplied drugs and, in relation to Girl A, images had been recorded.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused