Seven men have appeared in court accused of sexually exploiting and raping a group of young girls during a six year campaign of abuse.

The defendants are facing allegations they forced the underage victims - aged between 12 and 15 - to engage in sexual activity in exchange for drugs.

JPs were told the men committed the offences in Redditch, Worcs, against nine girls - all under the age of 16 - between 2011 and 2017.

Today (Tue) Abdul Hussain, 21, Arslan Tazarab, 24, Ethashan Tazarab, 20, Numan Mohammed, 22, Usmaan Asghar, 21, Usman Ali, 27, and Richard Weaver, 28, appeared before Kidderminster Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Amee Parkes said: "This case is part of Operation Beam, investigating a number of offences involving child sexual exploitation in Redditch.

"It has been a long and difficult inquiry since 2017.

"Girls are said to have performed sexual games and got drugs from these men for engaging in sexual activity "The investigation was formed in June 2017 following a report from a local school that a female pupil was engaging in sexual activity with males in exchange for drugs."

Arslan Tazarab, of Redditch, is charged with 11 offences dating back to 2015.

They include the rape of a girl under 16 in 2017 and two counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

He is also accused of five counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 16 and two of causing/inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

His brother Ethashan, of the same address, is charged with causing or inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity between April 2 and April 20, 2018.

He also faces a charge of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 16 between January 1 and December 31, 2014.

Weaver, of Droitwich, Worcs., is charged with the rape of a 15-year-old girl on February 4, 2017 in Redditch.

Hussain, of Redditch, is charged with engaging in sexual activity in presence of a child and sexual assault on a female over the age of 16 in 2016.

Ali, of Redditch, is charged with six counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15.

Mohammed appeared via video link from prison, and was remanded in custody after being charged with 15 offences.

They include six counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 16, rape of a girl aged under 16 and engaging in sexual communication with a child.

He also faces four counts of causing or inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual activity in presence of a child.

Asghar, of Redditch, is charged with sexual assault on a woman over the age of 16 in September 2014.

He is also charged with two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 16 in August 2015.

He was the only defendant to enter a plea and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He was granted conditional bail alongside the other defendants apart from Mohammed, who was remanded in custody.

The men will all next appear at Worcester Crown Court on December 1 for a preliminary hearing.