Three jailed for 'chilling' sexual abuse of teenage girls in Bristol Published duration 1 November 2016

image copyright Avon and Somerset Police image caption Mohammed Dahir, Sakariya Sheikh and Abdirashid Abdulahi were convicted at Bristol Crown Court

Three men have been jailed for the "chilling" sexual abuse of teenage girls in Bristol.

Sakariya Hassan Sheikh was jailed for 16 years for offences including trafficking and raping one victim, and the sexual assault of three others.

The 23-year-old faced 19 charges but was cleared of six counts of rape and sexual assault at Bristol Crown Court.

Abdirashid Abdulahi, 23 and Mohammed Ismail Dahir, 24, were each found guilty of two counts of rape.

The pair each received two eight year sentences to be served concurrently.

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Blair told the men, who all hail from the Bristol area, they had "brought shame upon your families and upon yourselves".

The Crown Prosecution Service described the level of abuse in the case as "chilling".

Three other men charged as part of the case were acquitted after the jury failed to reach a decision. A seventh man was found not guilty.

'Torment and anguish'

Sheikh, known as Zak, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault, two counts of trafficking, four counts of rape and one count of aiding and abetting rape.

Abdulahi, known as Abs or Older Abs, was found guilty of two counts of rape and cleared of one count of rape.

Dahir, known as Kamal, was also found guilty of two counts of rape and not guilty to three counts of rape.

The offences took place at various properties in Bristol between 2009 and 2013 and involved girls aged between 13 and 15.

The court was told some of the girls were given drugs and alcohol by the men who regarded them as "cheap and easy" and were deliberately targeted as they were perceived to be vulnerable and impressionable.

Det Sup Lisa Jones of Avon and Somerset Police said: "It is impossible to comprehend the torment and anguish these girls have suffered at the hands of these offenders.

"They are on a journey of coming to terms with this abuse and I have no doubt this will be a life-long journey."