Three teenagers and a man have been charged with rape after a pre-planned police operation into the alleged sexual exploitation of children.

Members of Staffordshire Police's child protection and exploitation team swooped in Stoke-on-Trent on Thursday.

Now the defendants have been charged with a catalogue of alleged offences and appeared in court.

They are:

  • Bilal Ahmed, aged 20, from Stoke-on-Trent, who is charged with rape and causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child;
  • Kashif Ahmed, aged 18, from Stoke-on-Trent, who is charged with two counts of rape, causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, being concerned in the supply of heroin, and being concerned in the supply of cannabis;
  • A 17-year-old Stoke-on-Trent boy who is charged with rape and causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child;

  • A 15-year-old Stoke-on-Trent boy who is charged with rape, causing a female over 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity, and sexual assault.

A police spokesman said: "The arrests were made as part of a pre-planned operation by the force’s child protection and exploitation team in Stoke-on-Trent on Thursday."

The defendants are now due to appear at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on June 10.

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