Two Stockport men who preyed upon an incapacitated 17-year-old girl at a Manchester Airbnb party and spent years denying responsibility have been sentenced to a combined 30 years’ imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court.
Armin Takhfifi, born 30 April 2000, of Wellington Road North, Stockport, and Hadi Khangheshlaghi, born 23 January 2001, of Alvanley Crescent, Stockport, appeared in the dock for sentence on Tuesday 10 November 2026 having been unanimously convicted of rape by a jury on 30 September 2026.
The court heard that on 22 November 2019, the survivor, who was a child aged 17 at the time, travelled with a friend to Manchester to attend a gathering at an Airbnb property hosted by men known to one of them through university. Prior to the event, the friend had received persistent messages from one of the hosts urging her to attend and bring companions.
After arriving at approximately 11pm, both girls were provided with drinks and a small amount of a cannabis spliff. Shortly afterwards, both girls experienced overwhelming drowsiness, extreme physical weakness, and an inability to move—a reaction far exceeding what would be expected from the minimal amount consumed.
The survivor recalled being led into a bedroom and lying on the bed without any physical energy. While in this defenceless and incapacitated state, she was subjected to rape by both Takhfifi and Khangheshlaghi, who made degrading remarks throughout the attack while she was unable to speak or resist.
Growing increasingly concerned for her friend, the second girl forced herself to walk to the bedroom despite feeling heavily incapacitated herself. Upon opening the door, she witnessed both men raping the survivor. Although she shouted at them to stop, Takhfifi and Khangheshlaghi ignored her pleas, physically barricaded the bedroom door shut, and continued the assault.
Following the ordeal, the distressed child was left partially undressed and covered with a shawl. When confronted by the friend, the men displayed zero remorse, callously stating, “she didn’t say yes or no,” to justify their actions.
The survivor reported the attack to Greater Manchester Police on 26 November 2019 and underwent a comprehensive forensic medical examination. Specialists documented physical injuries consistent with recent sexual assault and blunt force trauma, while forensic analysis of the survivor’s underwear recovered a mixed DNA profile matching both Takhfifi and Khangheshlaghi.
CCTV footage recovered by detectives shattered the defendants’ accounts. While cameras recorded both girls arriving at the property fully clothed and in good spirits, footage captured hours later showed them leaving in a drastically altered state, with the survivor wearing only a hoodie and a blue shawl and both appearing visibly unsteady on their feet as they entered a vehicle. Mobile phone downloads further revealed extensive post-incident calls and messages between the group expressing concern over what had transpired.
Throughout the investigation, both men denied wrongdoing. Takhfifi falsely claimed the sexual activity was consensual, while Khangheshlaghi initially denied any sexual contact whatsoever before changing his account mid-trial to admit intercourse while claiming consent.
At the conclusion of the trial, jurors unanimously rejected their accounts and convicted both defendants:
Armin Takhfifi: Guilty of rape
Hadi Khangheshlaghi: Guilty of rape
In a powerful victim personal statement read to the court, the survivor detailed the lasting devastation inflicted upon her life:
“Suddenly the world as I knew it was flipped upside down, at just 17 years old, the type of trauma I went through is something that I wish no other person should have to endure. The first stage was confusion, then shock, and then the realisation of what had happened to me was the very thing that completely stripped me of my dignity, identity, and sense of self – which was rape. I feel as though there is nothing that could possibly repair the damage and impact it has had on me going through such a traumatic event, but I am glad that justice has been served in this instance. I hope this positive outcome could encourage others to speak up too and spread awareness for anyone else who may be experiencing what I have been through. I want people to understand that the consequences of this incident extend far beyond the day it occurred. It has affected my wellbeing, my relationships, my independence and my ability to feel secure in my own life. I am still living with those consequences, and I cannot simply return to the person I was before. It has ultimately made my world feel so much smaller, and I will continue to search for the ‘spark’ I lost somewhere in between.”
Detective Constable Mike Taylor, who led the Greater Manchester Police investigation, stated:
“Throughout this incredibly long and difficult journey, the victim has shown extraordinary courage and resilience. What she has been through is unimaginable, and the impact of these offences has affected every aspect of her life. While no sentence can ever undo the harm she has suffered, I hope today’s outcome provides her with some measure of justice and allows her to continue moving forward. Rape is one of the most devastating crimes one person can inflict on another. To take advantage of someone in such a vulnerable state and then spend years denying responsibility and showing no genuine remorse, is truly abhorrent. Throughout the course of this investigation, the victim has had to relive deeply traumatic experiences while navigating a lengthy and often challenging criminal justice process. Despite everything she has been through, she continued to support the investigation with immense strength and determination. The evidence in this case exposed the callous actions of these men and the devastating consequences their choices had on an innocent young woman. I am proud to have been part of the investigation that has secured justice for her and held those responsible accountable for their actions. To anybody who believes they may have been a victim of sexual violence, please report it to us. We will listen, we will support you, and we will do everything we can to help. Sexual violence of any kind is never okay.”
Under the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, the child survivor and her friend are protected by mandatory, lifelong statutory anonymity. Any publication, broadcast, or public dissemination of information capable of leading to their identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Sentencing the pair at Manchester Crown Court, the presiding judge condemned their callous exploitation of an incapacitated teenager and their prolonged refusal to accept accountability.
The court sentenced both Armin Takhfifi and Hadi Khangheshlaghi to 15 years’ immediate imprisonment each, totalling 30 years behind bars. Both offenders will also remain subject to lifelong notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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