Man, 28, charged with raping two teenage girls

A man has been charged with rape of two teenage girls in Bolton over the weekend.

Sultani Bakatash, 28, is due before Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court accused of sexual offences against two 14-year-old girls.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the man is an Afghan National and was arrested in the early hours of Sunday following a report of rape at a flat in Middle Hulton.

The police have released this information in line with national guidance.

GMP have not said what policing purpose is served in releasing this information.

The defendant has self-defined their ethnicity as 'any other'.

The force added that both victims have been supported by specialist teams; criminal proceedings were active, and it urged the public not to speculate while investigations continued.

GMP said the suspect 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.

It is alleged the suspect had previously been in online contact with the girls – aged 14 – before meeting them.

Both are being supported by specialist teams as officers continued to investigate the full circumstances of the incident.

GMP was not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.

Ch Supt Helen Critchley, Bolton district commander, said: "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."