Telford brothers 'forced girls into prostitution'

Mubarek Ali (left) and Ahdel Ali deny the charges

Four teenage girls were sexually abused and forced into prostitution by two Shropshire brothers, a court has heard.

The jury was told the youngest girl, 13, was raped, and another was repeatedly sold as a prostitute, sometimes to four men at a time.

Ahdel Ali, 24, and Mubarek Ali, 29, both of Regent Street, Wellington deny a total of 26 charges.

The offences are alleged to have taken place from March 2008 to December 2009.

Opening the case for the prosecution at Stafford Crown Court, Deborah Gould said the four alleged victims, all from the Telford area, suffered from "an extraordinary lack of self-esteem".

'Forbidden fruits'

"The defendants recognised they had power over the girls they abused because the girls lacked self-esteem, self-respect and self confidence. They were easy prey," she told the jury.

"Both were older than the girls and had the use of cars and money and gave the girls access to forbidden fruits - drink, drugs and sex."

Ms Gould told the court the brothers used gifts, attention and pressure to persuade two of the girls to have sex with other men.

Ahdel Ali denies one count of rape, 11 charges of sexual activity with a child, three charges of controlling child prostitution, two of inciting child prostitution, an allegation of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and meeting a child after grooming.

Mubarek Ali has pleaded not guilty to four charges of controlling child prostitution, two of trafficking in the UK for sexual exploitation and a charge of causing child prostitution.

The trial is expected to last two months.