Three men locked up for total 44 years over shocking Plymouth child rapes
Three predators have been slammed with a combined 44 years behind bars for raping four vulnerable girls in Plymouth during 2017. The Devon and Cornwall Police investigation, dubbed Operation Garcia, exposed a chilling exploitation racket targeting teenage girls as young as 14.
Longest sentence handed to 30-year-old Salih
Anthony Anantharajah, 34, Abalzaq Salih, 30, and Saif Kahya, 32, were found guilty of multiple rapes against victims aged 14 to 16. Salih received the harshest punishment with 19 years. Anantharajah was jailed for 13 years, while Kahya got 12 years.
House parties used as hunting grounds
The trio lured their victims to house parties with tempting offers of drugs, alcohol, and money. Once there, the girls were groomed and then brutally assaulted in the offenders’ homes.
Prosecutor condemns ‘vicious and vile campaign’
Claire Brinton, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, blasted the men’s depravity: “These three men exploited four young girls through drugs, alcohol, and money. Their victims were groomed and subjected to rape. This was a vicious and vile campaign of sexual abuse likely to cause life-changing harm and trauma.”
Message for survivors: it’s never too late to seek justice
The CPS thanked the brave survivors who came forward and urged other victims to speak out, no matter how long ago the abuse happened. “You are not alone and there is help available,” Brinton said.
Authorities continue to hunt for anyone else with information on similar crimes, pledging to hold offenders accountable and protect vulnerable children from sexual exploitation.
