The statue of justice, on the roof of the Old Bailey, pictured on December 17, 2003 in London. Ten men accused of sexually exploiting teenage girls have been charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and trafficking, police said Friday. (AFP/File)
LONDON (AFP) – Ten men accused of sexually exploiting teenage girls have been charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and trafficking, police said Friday.
The suspects aged between 19 and 30 were charged Thursday following an investigation into alleged abuse in Coventry, West Midlands Police said.
The men are all accused of exploiting at least five "vulnerable, local girls" between May and September last year, a spokesman for the force said.
The girls were all aged between 16 and 18 at the time of the alleged attacks.
Brothers Gulfraz Banaris, 20, and Ifaraz Banaris, 25, from Wood End, and Izthkhab Banaris, 24, from Coventry, were charged with conspiracy to traffick girls for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
Gulfraz and Izthkhab were also both accused of rape.
All three appeared before Coventry magistrates on Thursday and were remanded in custody to appear at Coventry Crown Court on November 7.
Two other brothers, Isa Iqbal, 21, and Ismail Iqbal, 20, both of no fixed address, also face trafficking charges and will appear in court in November.
Ricardo Hinkson, 23, from Radford, Amir Mahmood, 27, and Tasveer Hussain, 30, both from Foleshill, were all due to appear at Coventry Magistrates Court Friday charged with conspiracy to traffick for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
Saleem Hussain, 30, from, Coventry, and Khezer Hussain, 25, Stechford, were also due to appear, charged with sexual assault and rape respectively.
Police said the five alleged victims were being supported by specially trained police officers and staff from Coventry City Council Children's Services.
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