Four from Shropshire among 14 charged with rape and other offences in police operation

Eleven of the men, including the four from Shropshire, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court last Friday charged with serious sexual offences, some of which occurred in Oswestry.

Three other men appeared before Flintshire Magistrates Court last month as part of the same investigation. The alleged offences date between 2012 and 2015.

Three men from Oswestry are among the accused, as well as an 18-year-old from Market Drayton.

Those who appeared on Friday were Billy Joe Evans, 21 from a caravan site in Park Hall, Oswestry, charged with the rape of a woman in Deeside between January 1, 2015 and April 30, 2015; Silvester Martin Price, 19 of Ascot Close, Albany Park, Oswestry, charged with raping a woman jointly with Danny Roberts between May 12, 2012 and May 12, 2014; Danny Arthur Roberts, 31 of Park Hall Caravan site, Oswestry is also accused of jointly raping a woman in Oswestry between May 21, 2012 and May 12, 2014 – he is also accused of another rape between the same dates in Flintshire.

Thomas Joseph Wilson, 18 of The Paddocks, Warren Road, Market Drayton was charged with three counts of rape in Flintshire between June 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014.

There was also Stephen Berry, 18 of Scotts Close, Marchwiel, Wrexham, charged with one count of rape in Cheshire between November 2014 and June 30, 2015; Kevin Owen Jones, 28 of Clwyd House, Bryn Estyn Road, Wrexham, is accused of jointly raping a woman in Oswestry with Silvester Price between May 12, 2012 and May 12, 2014.

Thomas David Beaney, 21 of Chester Road, Deeside appeared charged with the rape of a woman between December 2014 and January 31, 2015, he is also charged with sexual assault on a female between the same dates.

Miles Berry, 23 of Kings Road, Connah's Quay appeared charged with three counts of rape. The first charge relates to an offence allegedly committed in Flintshire between November 1 and November 30, 2014, while the second charge relates to the rape of a woman in February 2015 and the third relates to the rape of a girl aged under 16 on the same day. - both attacks allegedly took place in Cheshire.

Paddy Doran, 19 of Tara Park caravan site, Oil Street, Liverpool faced two charges of rape in Blacon, Cheshire between November 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014.

Kevin Lee Levi Gorman, 18 of Ince Lane, Elton, Chester appeared charged with one count of rape between November 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015, as well as Jimmy Dean Holden, 19 of River View caravan park, Tonhouse Lane, Widnes charged with raping a girl under 16 between May 12, 2009 and May 12 ,2011 on Slack Lane, Deeside.

He is also accused of raping a woman behind the back of St Deiniol's Church, Church Lane, Hawarden between March 1, 2014 and April 30, 2014.

The first arrest as part of North Wales Police's Operation Lenten took place after raids were carried out in Flintshire.

On April 21, Isaac Lowther, 24 of Little Lane caravan park, Goose Green, Wigan was brought before the courts charged with three counts of rape.

He was also accused of two counts of intentionally arranging to facilitate the travel of a person for their sexual exploitation, intentionally causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and possession of a cut throat razor and cannabis.

James Anthony Doran, 23 from a travellers site in Maidstone, Kent faced four charges including assaulting a female, possessing and distributing an indecent video clip of a child and rape.

Rocky Evans, 22, who had been living in a caravan site off the M53 at Rossmere near Ellesmere Port was charged with four counts of rape and one of sexual assault.

All have been bailed to appear before Mold Crown Court next Friday.

A North Wales Police spokesman said: "Fourteen people in total have been arrested and charged with serious sexual offences and trafficking offences as part of an on-going investigation.

"Eleven appeared before Wrexham Magistrates Court on May 13.

"They have all been released on bail until May 27."