A judge has lifted reporting restrictions protecting the identities of two Afghan asylum seekers aged 17 who carried out the “horrific” rape of a teenage girl in Warwickshire.

Warwick Crown Court was told Jan Jahanzeb and Israr Niazal led the highly-distressed 15-year-old victim into a “den-type” area in Newbold Comyn in Leamington Spa where they attacked her on Saturday 10 May 2025.

Ruling that the youths should be identified after applications to name them by four media organisations including the Press Association, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano accepted that keeping existing restrictions in place could lead to speculation which might see innocent people being targeted.

“A lack of information stokes public anger and leads to the unchecked spread of false information,” the judge said.

Jahanzeb and Niazal pleaded guilty at a hearing at Coventry youth court in October to attacking the girl.

Both defendants were committed to the Crown Court for sentence, each appearing in the dock assisted by their own interpreter.

The rape, which took place after the victim had become separated from friends in a grassed area, was described as “horrific” during legal submissions regarding reporting restrictions.

Opening the facts of the case against Jahanzeb and Niazal on Monday, Prosecutor Shawn Williams said both defendants were unaccompanied child asylum seekers.

Jahanzeb fled Afghanistan and underwent an age assessment which concluded he was 17 after arriving in the UK in January this year, Mr Williams said.

Niazal arrived in the UK in November last year, initially being given accommodation in Kent before being moved into local authority care in the Warwickshire area.

Mr Williams told the court that video evidence recovered during a police inquiry showed Jahanzeb in company with the victim and speaking in Pashto to summon Niazal to join him.

Footage from a mobile phone recovered during the inquiry was highly distressing, Mr Williams said, adding that the victim had screamed for help but Jahanzeb had placed his hand over her mouth.

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