An Afghan immigrant claims he was influenced by “Satan” and raped two 14-year-old girls after giving them vodka in their Bolton flat. Sultani Bakatash, 29, is currently on trial facing charges including rape and sexual assault, the Daily Mail reported.Bakatash moved to the UK in 2022 to seek asylum. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and other sex crimes. He told the court he had served in the British army for seven years before arriving in the UK and fled Afghanistan due to the presence of the Taliban.During his testimony, Bakatash described “uncontrollable sleepiness” on the day of the incident. He claimed he initially invited the girls to his apartment after they requested food. The court heard he met one of the girls outside McDonald’s after a gym session and later reconnected with her at an Asda store. He believed the girls were 18 or 19 years old and he agreed to buy them food as promised.The situation escalated when Bakatash purchased three bottles of vodka for the girls, insisting he did not drink because of his Muslim faith. He recalled that the girls took an Uber to his apartment and were excited the whole way, taking selfies and giggling.Upon arrival, the young girls began drinking a mixture of vodka and soft drinks. Bakatash claimed he was affected by the atmosphere and took a sip from one of the bottles. “I thought Satan had taken over me and I drank from the bottle,” he said.As the three continued drinking, Bakatash began to feel dizzy and nauseous, saying, “I felt really bad,” and found himself becoming drowsy. He explained that the girls then started “sexy dancing” and kissing, and he joined in before he felt himself drifting into unconsciousness.His lawyer, Umar Shahzad, pressed him on whether anyone had done anything to him during the ordeal. Bakatash responded: “I can’t say.” When asked about his understanding of the girls’ behavior, he similarly admitted uncertainty, saying: “I don’t belong to myself.”The defendant said he initially invited the girls to visit his apartment and enjoy drinks with the simple promise of buying them food. However, he found himself facing serious charges that changed the course of his life.
