RELATIVES OF THREE MEN ACCUSED OF SUBJECTING TW

RELATIVES OF THREE MEN ACCUSED OF SUBJECTING TWO TEENAGE
HITCHHIKERS TO A TERRIFYING RAPE ORDEAL CLAPPED AND CHEERED AS
AN OLD BAILEY JURY ACQUITTED THEM ON MONDAY.

ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS WISHED THE JURY A ‘HAPPY CHRISTMAS’ AS
HE WALKED FREE FROM THE COURT.

THE TRIO, AGED 14, 18, AND 19, ALL FROM BURNT OAK,
MIDDLESEX, HAD STRENUOUSLY DENIED FALSE IMPRISONMENT, RAPE,
INDECENT ASSAULT, CAUSING ACTUAL BODILY HARM, AND AIDING AND ABETTING

RAPE ON NEW YEARS DAY THIS YEAR.

THE THREE HAD PICKED UP THE TWO 18 YEAR OLD LEYTON GIRLS AT
THE JUNCTION OF THE A5 AND A41 EN ROUTE TO THE M1 AS THEY HITCHED
TO NORTHAMPTON ON THEIR WAY TO VISIT A RELATIVE.

THE MEN WERE THEN ALLEGED TO HAVE FORCED THE GIRLS AT
GUNPOINT TO INDULGE IN ‘SEXUAL INDIGNITIES’ BEFORE RAPING THEM,
SAID MR MICHAEL AUSTIN-SMITH, PROSECUTING.

BUT THE THREE TOLD POLICE AND THE COURT THE GIRLS HAD
CONSENTED TO HAVING SEX WITH THEM.

ONE OF THE MEN WAS CONVICTED OF STEALING A RING FROM ONE OF
THE GIRLS AND WAS GIVEN A 12 MONTHS YOUTH CUSTODY SENTENCE.

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE TIME HE HAS ALREADY SPENT IN

CUSTODY JUDGE NEIL DENISON QC, TOLD HIM HE WOULD BE RELEASED

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

ENDS