Iraqi migrant denies raping girls as young as 12 he met on Snapchat

Iraqi migrant denies raping girls as young as 12 he met on SnapchatWhen questioned by his counsel David Brooke KC about one rape allegation, Bawan Harwe denied forcing the girl but admitted having intercourse with her at a flat in Hexthorpe, Doncaster. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source By Ciaran McGrath, Senior News Reporter 16:45, Fri, May 29, 2026 Updated: 16:47, Fri, May 29, 2026 Sheffield Crown Court (Image: Google Street View)An Iraqi man standing trial for multiple rapes has told a court that all sexual contact with the underage girls he met on Snapchat was consensual, insisting he believed they were over 16. Bawan Harwe, 28, took the witness stand at Sheffield Crown Court in his defence, where he is appearing alongside Sharam Muhamadi, 21. window.scriptsToLoad.push({url:'https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=118222&vp_content=plembed3a6btjknzwqh&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%&playerApiId=v118222',triggeredBy:'tcfLoaded',delay:1500,containerId:'ovp-primis',title:"Primis player",beforeLoad:()=>{window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v118222"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}})},}) Prosecutors claim the pair lured the girls to meetings in Doncaster and Barnsley by offering drugs, vapes and paid taxi rides. Speaking through an interpreter, Harwe denied eight counts of rape and 10 other charges. He said he "would not have gone there" if he had known the victims were as young as 12. Harwe accepted meeting the girls, who the prosecution said were "effectively bribed" with money and drugs to submit to sexual acts. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Get the day's biggest headlines in UK and World news and more Subscribe Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may includ...