Oxford exploitation trial: Girls ran away from children's home

Nine men are accused of sexually exploiting six girls, aged between 11 and 15

Girls at a children's home who were allegedly abused by a group of men would run away and return showing signs of sexual activity, a court has heard.

A worker at the Oxfordshire home told the Old Bailey staff were aware two girls had been with "older men".

She said one girl was missing for several days and returned with a number of injuries and signs of sexual abuse.

Nine men, from Oxford and Berkshire, deny 51 counts relating to girls aged between 11 and 15 from 2004 to 2012.

The men are accused of grooming and exploiting six girls in total.

The worker, who cannot be named, described how the pair would disappear from the home at weekends and occasionally during the week.

Sexual health clinic

She said: "We were aware that they'd been with older men."

Whenever the girls returned home, it was policy to take them to a sexual health clinic in Reading, she explained.

The girls were often giggly before leaving the home, she told the court.

"They'd go out for a cigarette at the end of the drive with a member of staff," she said.

"They'd just say 'see you, we're going,' and run."

In contrast they were described as being "down" when they came home.

They would return with cash and mobile phones, but would be tired and unkempt and would begin to self harm, she said.

"They were very vulnerable girls and we had a strong suspicion they were involved in sexual activity," the care home worker told the jury.

The trial is expected to last until April. The defendants, who are all in custody, are:

• Kamar Jamil, 27, formerly of Aldrich Road, Oxford

• Akhtar Dogar, 32, of Tawney Street, Oxford; and his brother Anjum Dogar, 30, of Tawney Street, Oxford

• Assad Hussain, 32, of Ashurst Way, Oxford

• Mohammed Karrar, 38, of Kames Close, Oxford; and his brother Bassam Karrar, 33, of Hundred Acres Close, Oxford

• Mohammed Hussain, 24, of Horspath Road, Oxford

• Zeeshan Ahmed, 27, of Palmer Road, Oxford

• Bilal Ahmed, 26, of Suffolk Road, Maidenhead