SEVEN men have been charged for rape offences as part of a child sexual exploitation [CSE] police operation across the county and remanded in custody.

The arrests on Thursday were carried out as part of Operation Nautical, an investigation by Thames Valley Police into non-recent CSE in Oxfordshire.

The charges all relate to three alleged victims between 2008 and 2015.

Shabir Dogar, 22, of Bertie Place, Oxford, has been charged with three offences of conspiracy to rape a girl under the age of 16, one rape of a girl under the age of 16, one offence of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and one offence of sexual assault on a female over 13 by penetration

Shabaz Khan, 23, of Cosin Close, Oxford, has been charged with three offences of conspiracy to rape a girl under the age of 16, two offences of rape of a girl under the age of 16, one offence of aiding and abetting rape of a girl under the age of 16 and one offence of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.

Joseph Suraina, 22, of Marlborough Road, Oxford, has been charged with three offences of conspiracy to rape a girl under the age of 16

Shohab Dogar, 23, of Tawney Street, Oxford, has been charged with three offences of conspiracy to rape a girl under the age of 16, five offences of rape of a girl under the age of 16, seven offences of aiding and abetting rape of a girl under the age of 16 and two offences of inciting a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity

Yasin Hamid, 20, of Moorbank, Oxford, has been charged with three offences of conspiracy to rape a girl under the age of 16 and two offences of rape of a girl under the age of 16

Usman Iddris, 22, of Northway, Oxford, has been charged with three offences of conspiracy to rape a girl under the age of 16 and one rape of a girl under the age of 16

The men all appeared at Oxford Magistrates' Court today.

Their family and friends filled the entire public gallery at today's hearing.

They will now appear in Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday, April 25 along with eight other men who were charged following warrants in Banbury on Tuesday, also as part of Operation Nautical, and appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court this week.

Waqas Hussain, aged 24, of no fixed abode, has been charged with attempted sexual assault of a girl under 13, inciting a girl under 13 into sexual activity by penetration, rape of girl under 16, rape of girl under 13 and sexual assault by penetration of a girl under 13.

He was bailed to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.