Officers from Operation Nautical being briefed ahead of raids on properties. NNL-170328-130408001

The arrests were carried out as part of Operation Nautical – an investigation into non-recent child sexual exploitation in Oxfordshire. A total of 56 charges have been brought.

The following men were all charged yesterday and remanded in custody to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court this morning, Thursday.

The charges are as follows:

> Leon Cole, 19, of Alma Road, Banbury was charged with two counts of rape of a girl aged 13 to 15, one count of rape of a woman 16 years or over, two counts of aiding and abetting to procure the rape of a girl aged 13 to 15, one count of false imprisonment, one count of intimidating a witness, one count of sexual assault and one count of an offender under 18 inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

> Ateeq Hussain, 23, Avenue Road, Banbury, was charged with five counts of rape of a girl aged 13 to 15 and one count of an offender under 18 inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

> Qamran Hafiz, 24, of Danesmoor, Banbury was charged with 11 counts of rape of a girl aged 13 to 15 and one count of an offender under 18 inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

> Ahsan Raza, 19, of Churchill Road, Birmingham, was charged with four counts of rape of a girl aged 13 to 15, one count of false imprisonment and one count of an offender under 18 inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

> Abdul Safraz, 31, of Deacon Way, Banbury was charged with three counts of rape of a girl aged 13 to 15.

> Nasser Younis, 37, of Sandford Green, Banbury, was charged with six counts of rape of a girl aged 13 to 15 and one count of taking an indecent photograph of a child.

> Tafail Mohammed, 24, of East Close, Banbury was charged with one count of rape of a girl aged 13 to 15.

> Marcelo Suarez, 20, of Hillside Close, Banbury, was charged with one count of rape of a woman 16 years of age or over.

Two men were also charged yesterday in connection with the investigation and will appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on May 2. They are:

> Amir Arfi, 23, of no fixed abode, was charged with six counts of rape of a girl aged 13 to 15 and one count of an offender under 18 causing/inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.