A number of agencies failed to recognise and prevent the exploitation of at least nine teenagers in Somerset, it has been revealed.

The serious case review comes after two Turkish men were jailed last year for a total of 32 years after being convicted for rape and sexual offences against six children aged 14 and 15.

Authorities missed 14 opportunities to prevent the abuse of two of the teenagers, who sparked the initial review - who believed they were in a loving relationship with the men, legitimising the sustained abuse.

Both girls fell repeatedly pregnant and had a number of forced abortions and miscarriages, as well as being subject to physical and emotional abuse during a four-year period in Yeovil.

Jailed: Mehmet Citak (left) and Ahmet Kurtyemez (right) used their workplace, a barber's in Yeovil, Somerset, as a base to have sex with underage girls - and the offering of services such as piercing and tattoos attracted children to the shop. Two teenagers they abused fell repeatedly pregnant and had a number of forced abortions

Mehmet Citak, then aged 34, and Ahmet Kurtyemez, then aged 29, were sentenced to 20 years and 12 years imprisonment respectively for offences committed between 2010 and 2014.

Citak and Kurtyemez were using their workplace, a barber's, as a base to have sex with underage girls and the offering of services such as piercing and tattoos attracted children to the shop.

The two girls, known as C and Q, gave birth to children fathered by Citak and believed they were in long-term relationships with him but instead were 'subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse as part of a controlling relationship'.

The Somerset Safeguarding Children Board report found that 14 opportunities were missed by Avon and Somerset Police, the Clinical Commissioning Group, Yeovil District Hospital, Somerset Partnership Trust (CAMHS), and Somerset County Council.

The report highlights a number of failings in the care of the two girls involved in the case: 'What is surprising though is that even when the age difference of the sexual partner was known by police and social care to be 10+ years, no action was taken purely on this basis.

What is surprising though is that even when the age difference of the sexual partner was known by police and social care to be 10+ years, no action was taken purely on this basis

'Moreover, when the girls lied and gave ages variously three to seven years old, this was accepted without reporting concern.'

Frances Nicholson, Cabinet member for Children and Families at Somerset County Council said: 'This report makes very difficult reading and will bring home the uncomfortable truth that this form of child abuse - like all other forms - takes place everywhere, including Somerset.

'It is clear that all the agencies had lessons to learn and that the system as a whole did not respond well enough to protect and support these young people.

'The report covers a period several years ago and this issue is now much better understood and considerable improvements have been made in the way agencies respond together.'

Julian Wooster, the Director of Children's Services for Somerset County Council apologised for the shocking failings.

There were 14 different chances to identify and stop the abuse - but all agencies missed them.

Mr Wooster says a number of people who failed the system no longer work for the council.