Operation Sanctuary: Four Newcastle men charged with offences including rape and drug supply

Jahangir Zaman, Shiek Zaman, Nadeem Aslam and Abdul Khayum will appear before Newcastle Magistrates' Court on March 30

Four Newcastle men have been charged with offences including rape, drug supply and kidnap as part of Operation Sanctaury.

Jahangir Zaman, 41, of Hadrian Road, in Fenham, has been charged with rape and supply of mephedrone.

Shiek Zaman, 32, of Yewvale Road, Fenham, is charged with kidnap, falsely imprisoning another and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence.

While Nadeem Aslam, 41, of Belle Grove West, Spital Tongues is charged with permit the use of premises for supply of mephedrone and supply of mephedrone, and

Abdul Khayum, 23, of Hampstead Road, Benwell, has been charged with rape.

All four will appear before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on March 30.

Northumbria Police launched Operation Sanctuary in January 2014 with a wave of arrests after receiving a report expressing concern for one girl.

But as the investigation continued detectives discovered a widespread problem of vulnerable women and girls being abused.

And Operation Sanctuary was subsequently broadened to include all incidents of females being sexually assaulted after being targeted because of their vulnerability.