Operation Stovewood: Man found guilty of raping teenage girl

9 Feb 2018 03:02 PM

A 47-year old man has been found guilty of raping a teenage girl between 2000 and 2002 in Rotherham, following an investigation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Asghar Bostan, 47 from East Bawtry Road, Rotherham was charged in May 2017 as part of Operation Stovewood - the NCA’s investigation into non-familial child sexual exploitation and abuse between 1997 and 2013.

The victim – who was aged under 16 at the time of the abuse - came forward to South Yorkshire Police in 2014 to report the abuse and the case was referred to the NCA’s Operation Stovewood team.

She told officers she was given drugs and alcohol, and coerced into staying at a flat in Rotherham, where Bostan raped her on two occasions.

He has been sentenced to nine years in prison following a five-day trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

To date, 35 individuals have been arrested, 18 have been charged and four have been convicted. Specialist officers are engaging with over 260 victims and over 100 suspects have been identified.

Operation Stovewood Senior Investigating Officer Paul Williamson said:

“This is the second trial under Operation Stovewood and the commitment of officers in building trust and relationships with victims should not be underestimated.

“Our investigations are complex and challenging, but I am sure today’s conviction will give other victims the confidence to know they will be listened to, and the individuals who exploited them in the worst imaginable way will be brought to justice.

“Working with South Yorkshire Police, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and the many other partners we are engaged with, we will not stop in our endeavors to get justice for the victims and survivors who have shown great courage and dignity in coming forward”.

Kate Hurst, from the CPS, said: “Bostan took advantage of a young girl at a time when she was vulnerable.

“On two separate occasions, drink and possibly drugs were used before he took her into the bedroom and raped her. Bostan was much older than the victim who was still a child and barely knew him.

“Bostan denied that he was the male she recognised as ‘Don’ but evidence put forward by the CPS, including the victim’s accounts of the incidents, saw the jury find him guilty.

“I would like to pay tribute to the victim who came forward and bravely supported this prosecution.”