The Afghans - five aged 20 and three aged 21 - are accused of a total of 42 offences, including charges of conspiracy to rape, all involving the same girls, who were aged in their early to mid-teens at the time.

Police raided several properties in Norwich as part of the Afghan grooming gang investigation (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

The charges follow an investigation into group-based child exploitation in Norwich.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

The eight suspects are due to stand trial at Norwich Crown Court in January having previously denied all offences against the girls, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said to have taken place between August 2023 and May 2025.

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