Seven men in court on child sex charges

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Seven men were due to appear in court today charged with a range of offences against a 14-year-old girl including rape, attempted rape and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

The men, arrested earlier this week in a series of dawn raids, have been charged with a range of offences, said to have happened between May and November 2012, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said today.

All seven were due to appear before Thames Magistrates' Court this morning.

Kris Venkatasami, head of the Special Casework Unit and Special Operations Unit at CPS London, said: "All seven are charged with conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child.

"Desmond Agyei is also charged with four counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and trafficking a person within the UK for sexual exploitation.

"Edward Kofi Edunya and Perry Murray have also been charged with one count each of rape.

"David Sarpong has also been charged with two counts of rape and one court of attempted rape.

"Ade Atitebi has also been charged with trafficking a person within the UK for sexual exploitation and one count of voyeurism.

"Austin Odisi has also been charged with eight counts of rape and Justin Maynard has also been charged with five counts of rape."

An eighth man arrested at the same time will face no further action, the CPS said.

The men were held in a series of dawn raids on Wednesday, when police swooped on addresses in Newham, Redbridge and Havering in east London, as well as one in Hertfordshire.

PA