Jahangir Zaman

Jahangir Zaman, 45, residing on Hadrian Road in Newcastle, played a significant role in the grooming gang exposed by Northumbria Police's Operation Shelter. The gang preyed on vulnerable teenage girls in Newcastle's West End, supplying them with alcohol and mephedrone ('Bubbles') to manipulate and pass them around for sexual purposes, often under the guise of romantic relationships.

Zaman was convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of rape, supplying drugs, and inciting prostitution. His convictions formed part of the larger prosecution that resulted in 17 men and one woman being found guilty across four trials. The sentencing process, presided over by Judge Penny Moreland, addressed the final group of offenders in September 2017, with Zaman among those due in court on 5 September.

The Belfast Telegraph reported on the case, detailing how the investigation involved paying a convicted rapist almost £10,000 for information on the gang. Zaman's actions exemplified the coercive tactics used, including drugging victims to enable repeated sexual abuse and exploitation. This case brought attention to the organised sexual exploitation of minors in the region.