Ipswich: Trio accused of raping girl, 13, to face trial

IPSWICH: Three men accused of raping a 13-year-old girl are due to go on trial in January.

The trio are said to be among four men who allegedly brought the teenager from Chingford in east London to Ipswich in a van on the night of July 6.

At a plea hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday Abdul Hammed, 46, of Wellington Street, Ipswich and Surin Uddin, 28, of Bethnal Green, London, each denied two offences of raping a girl under the age of 16, conspiracy to traffic in the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation and conspiracy to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

Hamza Ali, 38, of Chingford Road, London, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to traffic in the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation, conspiracy to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, one offence of rape and one of sexual assault.

The alleged sex assaults are said to have occurred at a house in Chevallier Street, Ipswich.

A fourth man, Mohamed Sheikh, a 31-year-old of Seaton Point, London, did not enter any pleas yesterday and his case was adjourned until a later date.

The defendants are due to go on trial at Norwich Crown Court on January 14.

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