By Jason Evans
A “manipulative” man lured a vulnerable child into the dangerous world of drug dealing. Najib Arab plied the girl with free cannabis and food and gave her attention, then used her for sex and to package and deliver cannabis for him. Cardiff Crown Court heard Arab is a refugee from Afghanistan whose real age is uncertain and who had a previous conviction for dealing Class A drugs. Making him the subject of an extended sentence the judge said she was satisfied he should be considered a dangerous offender who poses a risk in particular to girls under 16. The court heard the victim in the case met Arab after she travelled to central Cardiff with a friend looking to buy cannabis “spliffs”. The girl was given the defendant’s number and contacted him on Snapchat. Arab asked the girl to send him a picture of herself which she did, and the pair met in the city centre. The court heard defendant told the girl he was from Afghanistan and was aged 17, though in reality his genuine age is not certain with Arab having four different dates of birth on official systems variously putting his age somewhere between 27 and 33. After meeting the pair went to the defendant’s bedsit where he gave her three free cannabis cigarettes and was “flirtatious” with her before they “quickly” had sex. This was to be the start of an exploitative relationship between the child and the defendant. The girl made a series of visits to the defendant’s property where she was given food and drugs, and the pair engaged in sex. On a number of occasions the defendant collected the child in a taxi from where she lived. The court heard Arab told the victim he was the only cannabis dealer operating around Cardiff Central station and showed her videos of him assaulting other people who tried to encroach on his “territory”, and he also made it known to the child that he carried a knife. For th e latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter The court heard Arab then began using the girl in his drug dealing business, instructing her to package cannabis deals and then showing her how to conceal deals in her mouth and getting her to do the wraps and make deliveries on his behalf, often ferrying her around on his electric bike. On one occasion he took her to a drugs den where people were preparing crack cocaine deals. The court heard that Arab’s activities came to light last year when the girl spent three nights at the defendant’s house. Police launched a search for the vulnerable teen and the court heard that it was due to “ingenious policing” and detailed local knowledge by a police officer that she was located at the defendant’s property. While police were rescuing the victim the defendant turned up at the property with two other young girls before fleeing over a garden fence. He was arrested a week later around Cardiff Central railway station. In a statement from the victim which was to the court read by prosecution barrister Emma Harris the girl said Arab initially seemed like he “genuinely cared” for her and made her feel looked after. She said he provided her with “food, shelter and drugs” and had sex with her, and she said she felt she had to “give something back”. The girl said she then came to realise she was being taken advantage of but felt she had no choice but to keep going back to him as she was “worried about the repercussions if I didn’t”. She said felt “worthless and disgusted with myself” and engaged in self-harm but added that though she struggles to trust people she is now in a batter place than she was. Najib Arab, of Mackintosh Place, Roath, Cardiff, had previously pleaded on the day to trial to being concerned in the supply of cannabis and being concerned in the supply of ketamine, and had been convicted at trial of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour contrary to the Modern Slavery Act when he returned to the dock for sentencing. He has one conviction for three offences from 2018 – possession of crack with intent to supply, possession of heroin with intent to supply, and possession of a bladed article. William Chipperfield, for Arab, said the defendant found himself in the UK as a refugee and “to a certain extent has himself been a victim of trafficking”. He said it was accepted it must have been a frightening experience for the girl and “nobody would want their daughters in similar circumstances” but said his client had never meant to cause the girl psychological harm and said Arab’s drug-dealing lifestyle meant the teenager’s experience was “an unfortunate circumstance of the life that he was living at the time”. Judge Lucy Crowther told Arab he had purported to care for the girl when in reality he did not, and said he was a “manipulative individual” who flattered the child and paid her the attention he realised she was “craving”. She said the defendant gave the child drugs and food as part of plan to “lure” her into his criminal activity and his control, which he maintained by “implied violence”. She said Arab’s actions had had had a “very destructive effect” on the teenager. The judge noted the defendant continues to blame his young victim and does not take responsibility for what he has done. Judge Crowther said she was satisfied on the basis of everything she had read and heard about the defendant that he should be considered a dangerous offender who posed a risk to young girls in particular those under 16 and an extended sentence was necessary. She said she would use the date of birth which had previously been used in immigration proceedings which made Arab’s age 29. Arab was made the subject of an extended nine-year sentence comprising seven years in custody and a two-year extended licence period. The defendant must serve two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence before he can apply to be released but it will be for the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be let out and, if so, under what conditions. Arab was also made the subject of a life-long slavery and trafficking prevention order. Speaking after the sentencing South Wales Police detective constable Jessica Thomas, said: “Najib Arab took advantage of a vulnerable child, putting her in dangerous positions for his own profit. His sentencing sends a clear message that child exploitation has no place in south Wales. “We remain committed to identifying and safeguarding children in our communities who are being exploited into criminal activity, and we urge those who have concerns to report them to us.”