Gwent Police have charged eight men with a total of 34 offences as part of an investigation into alleged historic sexual abuse of children, the force has confirmed.
Scope of the investigation
The operation, known as Operation Oak, follows reports from a number of women alleging sexual abuse committed against them when they were children between 1985 and 1996. The charges authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service include 17 counts of rape, some covering multiple alleged incidents.
Police activity on 14 July was targeted and took place across several areas, including Newport, Swansea, London, Birmingham, Lancashire, Edinburgh and Argyll and Bute in Scotland, indicating a multi‑jurisdictional operation.
Those charged
Gwent Police released details of a number of the men now charged. The force said the defendants are aged between 54 and 73 and are British citizens. They have been bailed to appear at Newport Magistrates’ Court on 24 July.
"The men, aged 54 to 73, are all British citizens and are bailed to appear before Newport Magistrates’ Court on Friday, July 24."
The force provided names and alleged offences for several of those charged:
- Shafaq Mohammed, 58, of Birmingham — charged with 11 offences including four counts of rape of a girl under 16 and three counts of rape of a woman aged 16 or over.
- Syed Mohammad Ashan Taqvi, 65, of Newport — charged with three counts of rape of a girl under 16.
- Mohammed Sheikh Abdul Hannan, 54, of Edinburgh — charged with two counts of rape of a woman aged 16 or over, indecent assault and related charges for aiding and conspiring to rape.
| Name | Age | Place | Notable charges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shafaq Mohammed | 58 | Birmingham | 11 offences, including four counts of rape (under 16) |
| Syed Mohammad Ashan Taqvi | 65 | Newport | Three counts of rape (under 16) |
| Mohammed Sheikh Abdul Hannan | 54 | Edinburgh | Two counts of rape (16+), indecent assault, aiding/conspiring charges |
Process and local impact
The CPS authorization of charges means court proceedings will follow. The allegations concern incidents said to have taken place decades ago; police and prosecutors must now assemble evidence to present at court. The scheduled magistrates’ hearing in Newport is the next public step in the legal process.
Operation Oak remains active. Gwent Police have not commented beyond the statement of charges and the locations where arrests or police action took place. No determinations of guilt have been made and all defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise in court.
Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is encouraged to contact Gwent Police through their non-emergency contact lines or via the force website.
