Asylum seeker repeatedly raped girl, 16, after luring her to city centre car park, court hears

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 15:04 EDT, 15 September 2026 | Updated: 15:30 EDT, 15 September 2026 An asylum seeker repeatedly raped a 16-year-old girl after luring her into a city centre car park, a jury has heard.Mourad Iyad Marei Salloum, 21, is alleged to have met the teenager just minutes before as she stopped to ask him and his friend for a cigarette.Manchester Crown Court heard how the teenager had gone to meet friends in Manchester City Centre before she found herself 'drunk' and alone.She is said to have been walking near Piccadilly Gardens in February this year when she encountered the two men. Jurors were told that after giving her a cigarette, she followed them to a nearby car park to fetch a lighter.But once she was there, it is alleged, she was repeatedly raped by Salloum close to a parked car.The defendant's accomplice is said to have interrupted him and said: 'When is it my turn?'After the alleged attack, the teenager was able to flee and speak to passers-by before alerting police.Adam Lodge, prosecuting, said the defendant had 'deliberately isolated' the vulnerable teenager before carrying out his attack. Manchester Crown Court (pictured) heard how the teenager had gone to meet friends in Manchester City Centre before she found herself 'drunk' and aloneGiving evidence, the teenager recalled meeting the men and engaging in conversation with them.She admitted being 'really drunk' after having four-and-a-half BuzzBallz drinks and asking them for a cigarette.One of the men asked her how old she was, she said, before she told them she was 16.She described to the jury how she followed the men, walked up several flights of stairs and across the car park before being repeatedly raped.During the attack, it is alleged Salloum kissed her on the lips and neck.Salloum, who is originally from Jordan, denies three counts of rape and one of sexual assault. He has admitted a charge of possessing cannabis.He has denied that CCTV images show him entering the car park, claiming it is a different man in the footage. He also disputes how his DNA came to be found on the teenager's neck.Barry Grennan, defending, claimed the teenager told one of the men that she 'liked' and was 'attracted' to him, which she denied.She also said it was 'false' she pulled the man towards her and kissed him on the mouth.Mr Grennan asked her about previous 'false' allegations she made against a male school student of a sexual nature, which she denied fabricating.The jury heard she had also made seven separate complaints of sexual assault in Manchester city centre since being allegedly raped by Salloum.Mr Grennan asked why she kept 'going back' there alone, despite these alleged attacks.The teenager responded by saying she liked to meet friends there and 'found a bit of comfort' being around them.The trial continues.At the time of the alleged rape, Salloum was a resident of a Holiday Inn hotel in Manchester.The hotel was the scene of a protest and violent disorder in July 2024 when demonstrators gathered and clashed with riot police.The disorder came as other rioting broke out across the UK in the wake of three girls being stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.