14 in court over rape, people trafficking and child sex charges
A total of 14 men – including four from Shropshire – have denied 45 charges of rape, sexual assault and people trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Judge Rhys Rowlands, sitting at Mold Crown Court, said that it would be impossible to try all defendants together and ordered that the case be split into two. The first will start on January 5, 2017, and the second on March 9.
The case involves allegations that two underage schoolgirls were provided to others for sexual purposes at various locations.
The first trial will involve Rocky Evans, James Evans, Jimmy Holden, Silvester Price, Danny Roberts and Bill Joe Evans.
Rocky Evans, 22, of Chester, faces four charges of rape, one of sexual touching and two of people trafficking for sexual exploitation.
James Dean Evans, 21, who was bailed to a Blackpool address, faces three charges of rape; Jimmy Dean Holden, 19, of Widnes, faces two rape charges; Silvester Martin Price, 19, of Albany Park, Oswestry, faces one rape charge; Danny Arthur Roberts, 31, of Park Hall Caravan site, Oswestry, faces one rape charge and Billy Joe Evans, 21, of Park Hall, Oswestry, faces one rape charge.
The second trial will involve the remaining eight defendants.
Isaac Lowther, 24, of Wigan, is charged with three counts of people trafficking for sexual exploitation, four charges of rape, attempting to incite a girl aged 14 to engage in sexual activity and possessing a cut-throat razor.
Thomas Lloyd Wilson, 18, of Warren Road, Market Drayton, who was bailed to another address, faces three rape charges. Levi Gorman, 18, of Chester, faces one charge of rape and one of human trafficking. Thomas David Beaney, 21, of Deeside, is charged with one count of rape and one of sexual assault. Miles Berry, 23, of Connah's Quay, faces three counts of rape and one charge of people trafficking for sexual exploitation.
James Anthony Doran, 23, of Maidstone, is charged with one rape offence, two charges of sexual assault, people trafficking, possessing an indecent video clip of a child and distributing that video clip.
Paddy Doran, 18, of Liverpool, faces two charges of rape and one charge of people trafficking.
Stephen Berry, 18, of Deeside, faces one rape count.
All were rebailed.
