Nine men in court over South Wales grooming gang allegations 2026

Key Points

• Shakeel Babur, aged 58, of Bath Street, Nelson, made his first appearance at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, 21 August 2026, in connection with an alleged grooming gang in South Wales.
• Mr Babur has been accused of committing four counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16; he refused to make a plea when he appeared in court.
• Of the nine men appearing, six pleaded not guilty to a number of charges, including rape, indecent assault, conspiracy to rape, causing prostitution and buggery without consent.
• The offences took place between 1985 and 1996 and involve historical child sexual exploitation in South Wales, which was investigated through Gwent Police’s Operation Oak.
• Conditional bail has been granted to all nine defendants; their trial is due to take place in January 2028 and is predicted to take up to 16 to 20 weeks.
• Gwent Police asked the general public not to disclose any information on social media that might affect the proceedings in court.

Wales Crime (Wales Times) August 21, 2026 — A man from Nelson has been named in court as part of a major investigation into historical child sexual exploitation in South Wales, appearing alongside eight other defendants at uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff Crown Court.

Who is the East Lancashire man named in the South Wales grooming gang case?

Shakeel Babur, 58, of Bath Street, Nelson, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, 21 August 2026, as one of nine men accused of offences linked to an alleged grooming gang said to have operated in South Wales during the 1980s and 1990s. According to the Lancashire Telegraph, Babur did not enter a plea during the hearing, while six of his co-defendants entered not guilty pleas to a range of charges including rape, indecent assault, conspiracy to rape, causing prostitution and buggery without consent.

Gwent Police previously stated that Babur is charged with four counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16, and his self-defined ethnicity is British Pakistani. The nine men were arrested in July following reports from women who said they were sexually abused as children decades ago.

What charges do the nine defendants face in the South Wales grooming gang case?

As reported by WalesOnline, the nine defendants, all British nationals aged between 54 and 76, face a total of dozens of historical sexual offence charges relating to eight alleged victims. Six of the men pleaded not guilty on Friday: Shafaq Mohammed, 58, of Birmingham; Syed Mohammad Ashan Taqvi, 65, of Newport; Mohammed Sheikh Abdul Hannan, 54, of Edinburgh; Kevin Lawrence, 54, of Dunoon, Argyll and Bute; Aminur Rahman Choudhury, 58, of Tottenham, north London; and Murad Ali, 57, of Swansea.

The remaining three defendants—Sheikh Mohammed Tahir Ullah, 73, of Newport; Mohammed Ramzan, 76, of Newport; and Shakeel Babur, 58, of Nelson—did not enter pleas during the hearing. Ullah is charged with two counts of rape, while Ramzan faces seven offences including rape, indecent assault, causing the prostitution of a girl under 16 and conspiracy to rape. Babur faces four counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16.

When and where will the South Wales grooming gang trial take place?

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, fixed a trial date for January 2028, with the hearing expected to last between 16 and 20 weeks. All nine defendants were granted conditional bail ahead of the trial.

The case, referred to as Operation Oak, is described by Gwent Police as a “complex and long-running investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation in South Wales”, with the alleged crimes occurring from 1985 to 1996.

What have police and prosecutors said about the South Wales grooming gang investigation?

Detective Chief Superintendent Andrew Tuck, of Gwent Police, emphasised the importance of protecting the integrity of the investigation, urging that no information be shared on social media that could interfere with court proceedings. He reassured the public that reports of child abuse will be taken seriously and encouraged anyone who has experienced or suspects abuse to come forward, ensuring that they will receive the necessary support and assistance.

“We continue to support the victims in this case alongside specialist agencies,”

DCS Tuck said, according to ITV News Wales.

“I understand that investigations of this nature can cause concern in our communities. However, it is vital for the victims in this case, and for the integrity of the investigation, that nothing is posted on social media that could affect the court proceedings.”

How many victims are alleged in the South Wales grooming gang case?

According to WalesOnline, the allegations relate to eight women who reported being sexually abused as children during the 1980s and 1990s. The six defendants who pleaded not guilty did so in relation to charges concerning five alleged victims, while the remaining three defendants face charges relating to additional alleged victims.

The charges span a range of historical sexual offences, including rape, indecent assault, conspiracy to rape, causing prostitution and buggery without consent.

What is the background of this development?

The arrests in July 2026 followed a long-running investigation by Gwent Police into historical child sexual exploitation in South Wales, codenamed Operation Oak. The inquiry was launched after women came forward to report that they had been sexually abused as children decades ago, with the alleged offences taking place between 1985 and 1996.

The nine men arrested are all British citizens, aged between 54 and 76, and hail from various locations across the UK, including Newport, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dunoon, Tottenham, Swansea and Nelson. The case has drawn significant attention due to the historical nature of the allegations and the number of defendants involved.

What are the predictions for how this development can affect the local community and wider public?

The outcome of the trial, scheduled for January 2028, could have significant implications for the local community in South Wales and beyond, particularly in terms of public confidence in the justice system’s ability to address historical child sexual exploitation. If convictions are secured, it may encourage other victims of historical abuse to come forward, potentially leading to further investigations and prosecutions.

Conversely, if the defendants are acquitted, it could raise questions about the challenges of prosecuting historical cases, where evidence may be limited or difficult to corroborate after several decades. The case also underscores the importance of safeguarding measures and the need for continued vigilance in protecting children from sexual exploitation, both historically and in the present day.

For the local community in Nelson and across Lancashire, the naming of Shakeel Babur in connection with the alleged grooming gang may prompt discussions about community safety, the role of local authorities in safeguarding children, and the importance of supporting victims of historical abuse. The trial’s outcome could also influence public perception of grooming gangs and the effectiveness of law enforcement in tackling such crimes.