Mustapha Farah

Mustapha Farah, 21, known as 'Greens', was convicted as part of a Somali gang of 13 men who operated a prostitution ring in Bristol, targeting vulnerable British schoolgirls aged 13 to 17. The gang groomed the girls, believing they were in relationships, and coerced them into sex with multiple men under the guise of Somali cultural traditions.

In the first trial at Bristol Crown Court, Farah was found guilty of paying for the sexual services of Girl A, a 16-year-old whose unsupervised flat in Easton was used as a drug den and site for abuse. He also pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and cocaine. The abuse spanned two years from 2011, involving rape, trafficking, and child prostitution, as detailed in Operation Brooke by Avon and Somerset Police.

• The gang used the girls' vulnerabilities, paying them minimally or with drugs, and passed them around for sex, including in hotels like the Premier Inn where rapes occurred.
• Victim testimonies revealed grooming tactics, with girls convinced that sleeping with 'boyfriends' friends was normal.

Evidence included social media exchanges, CCTV, and police interviews. Farah was sentenced on 27 November 2014 to 13 years imprisonment. Prosecutor Anna Vigars highlighted the sordid, non-romantic nature of the exploitation, often involving exhibitionism. Chief Superintendent Julian Moss stressed the victims' support and the complexity of their perceived 'relationships' with abusers.

The case drew parallels to national scandals, leading to reviews on child protection. The community condemned the acts, with Barnardo’s providing ongoing support to victims through their BASE service.