9 December 2025
An Afghan national has been charged with raping two 14-year-old girls in a flat in Bolton.
Sultani Bakatash, 28, was arrested in the early hours of Sunday following a report alleging rape in the Middle Hulton area of the town.
He appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, following the brief hearing via an interpreter of the Dari language, spoken in Afghanistan.
The court heard Bakatash has been in the UK for two years and has been granted indefinite leave to remain, with his mother, two brothers and two sisters also living in the UK.
Gabrielle Bann-Khellaf, prosecuting, opposed an application for bail made on behalf of the defendant by his solicitor.
Mrs Mary Cash, chairwoman of the bench, refused the bail application.
She told the defendant: ‘These are indictable only offences, so we are sending your case to the Crown Court at Bolton on the 13th of January, 2026.’
Both victims are being supported by specialist teams. Criminal proceedings are active and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are urging the public not to speculate while the investigation continues.
Afghan national Sultani Bakatash has been charged with raping two 14-year-old girls in a flat in Bolton. He will appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court at 9.45am on Tuesday
Bakatash has been charged with two counts of rape of a girl aged under 16, one count of sexual assault, and one count of assault by penetration, all the alleged offences committed on December 6.
He had allegedly been in online contact with the girls before meeting them, GMP said.
Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley, Bolton district commander for the force, added: ‘This is a deeply concerning report, and our priority is supporting the two young girls and their families at this traumatic time.
‘We have acted quickly since this was reported to us in the last 48 hours, and we’ve been using all available resources to understand what has happened and help this case progress through court.
‘We remain firmly committed to protecting young girls in Bolton and across Greater Manchester and to help people feel safe in their neighbourhood.
‘I ask that the public continue to support us while we do whatever is necessary to support the girls and to get this case solved.
‘As criminal proceedings are now active, I urge the public not to speculate so that the legal process can take its proper course and the dignity of the girls is maintained.’