Two Stockport men have been jailed after having been found guilty of rape.

Armin Takhfifi (26, of Wellington Road North, Stockport) and Hadi Khangheshlaghi (25, of Alvanley Crescent, Stockport), hosted a party and supplied one of its 17-year-old female attendees with drink and drugs, before being leading her to the bedroom and raping her.

They were each sentenced to 15 years in jail at Manchester Crown Court on 10 November.

Takhfifi and Khangheshlaghi hosted the party at an Airbnb in November 2019. They invited someone they knew from university, urging her to bring friends.

The girls were given drinks and a small amount of a spliff, and later described feeling 'overwhelmingly drowsy, weak and unable to move' - they said it felt far beyond what would be expected from the small amount they had consumed.

The 17-year-old survivor recalled being led into a bedroom, then feeling very lethargic and lying down on a bed.

While in this vulnerable state, she was raped by Takhfifi and Khangheshlaghi, who subjected her to degrading comments during the attack.

The survivor reported that she couldn't say or do anything to stop what was happening.

The survivor's friend started to feel concerned and went upstairs, where she witnessed the rape happening and shouted at the men to stop - but she was shouted at by the men and barricaded out of the room.

When the friend later confronted the men, they showed no remorse and said 'she didn't say yes or no'.

Following the attack, the survivor was left partially undressed and covered with a shawl.

She and her friend were later seen on CCTV leaving the Airbnb in a 'dramatically different state' to how they arrived, with the survivor wearing only a hoodie and the shawl - this same footage was used to refute the rapists' claim that the girls had enjoyed themselves.

The survivor reported the rape a few days after the incident, and underwent a forensic examination.

Medical experts found injuries consistent with recent sexual assault and blunt force trauma. Forensic examination of the survivor's underwear also identified Takhfifi and Khangheshlaghi's DNA.

The pair were arrested in 2021, and charges were put in March 2022.

Following a lengthy and complex investigation, and subsequent court proceedings delayed by a number of unforeseen circumstances, a jury found Takhfifi and Khangheshlaghi guilty of rape.

Greater Manchester Police said: "The evidence presented throughout the trial painted a stark picture of men who took advantage of a vulnerable young woman and then spent years denying responsibility for their actions.

"The jury rejected their accounts and found them guilty."

The survivor described having her world 'flipped upside down'.

"At just 17 years old, the type of trauma I went through is something that I wish no other person should have to endure.

"The first stage was confusion, then shock, and then the realisation of what had happened to me was the very thing that completely stripped me of my dignity, identity, and sense of self – which was rape.

"I feel as though there is nothing that could possibly repair the damage and impact it has had on me going through such a traumatic event, but I am glad that justice has been served in this instance.

"I hope this positive outcome could encourage others to speak up too and spread awareness for anyone else who may be experiencing what I have been through.

"I want people to understand that the consequences of this incident extend far beyond the day it occurred. It has affected my wellbeing, my relationships, my independence and my ability to feel secure in my own life.

"I am still living with those consequences, and I cannot simply return to the person I was before. It has ultimately made my world feel so much smaller, and I will continue to search for the spark I lost somewhere in between."

Detective Constable Mike Taylor, who led the investigation, said: "Throughout this incredibly long and difficult journey, the victim has shown extraordinary courage and resilience. What she has been through is unimaginable, and the impact of these offences has affected every aspect of her life.

"While no sentence can ever undo the harm she has suffered, I hope today's outcome provides her with some measure of justice and allows her to continue moving forward.

"Rape is one of the most devastating crimes one person can inflict on another. To take advantage of someone in such a vulnerable state and then spend years denying responsibility and showing no genuine remorse, is truly abhorrent.

"Throughout the course of this investigation, the victim has had to relive deeply traumatic experiences while navigating a lengthy and often challenging criminal justice process. Despite everything she has been through, she continued to support the investigation with immense strength and determination.

"The evidence in this case exposed the callous actions of these men and the devastating consequences their choices had on an innocent young woman. I am proud to have been part of the investigation that has secured justice for her and held those responsible accountable for their actions.

"To anybody who believes they may have been a victim of sexual violence, please report it to us. We will listen, we will support you, and we will do everything we can to help. Sexual violence of any kind is never okay."