Mohamed Arafe

Seven men, including Mohamed Arafe, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court charged with over 40 offences related to group-based child sexual exploitation in Bristol. The investigation by Avon and Somerset Police uncovered allegations of sexual offences against 11 teenage girls aged 14 to 17, occurring between 2022 and 2025.

Mohamed Arafe, a 19-year-old Syrian national residing in St Pauls, Bristol, faced five counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, one count of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, one count of sexual assault, one count of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, and one count of being concerned in the supply of ecstasy. The charges stem from an Avon and Somerset Police probe that began in November 2023 following concerns about the exploitation of a teenage girl. Initial arrests were made in April 2024, with suspects released on bail while further investigations identified the offences.

Arafe and the other defendants were re-arrested on Tuesday and appeared before District Judge Lynne Matthews on Wednesday. None entered pleas, and all were remanded in custody without bail applications, scheduled to appear at Bristol Crown Court on 17 December. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Herbert, the senior investigating officer, stated: “This remains a complex and sensitive investigation which has the protection of young girls from exploitation and the disruption of offending at its very heart.”

James Bolton-Smith from the Crown Prosecution Service’s Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit noted that the charges followed “a police investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation in Bristol,” emphasising the right to a fair trial and cautioning against prejudicial reporting. The case highlights ongoing efforts by Avon and Somerset Police to safeguard vulnerable teenagers through partnerships with local businesses.