THREE men have appeared in court so far today after police raids on an alleged child sex ring in Oxford.

The men - who can now be named for the first time - appeared at a magistrates’ court.

Thirty-one-year-old hospital porter Akhtar Dogar, of Tawney Street, East Oxford, faces three charges of rape, one of conspiring to rape a child, three of arranging the prostitution of a child, one of making a threat to kill and one of trafficking.

His 30-year-old unemployed brother Anjun Dogar faces one charge of conspiring to rape a child, one of arranging prostitution of a child and trafficking.

Twenty-six-year-old security guard Kamar Jamil, of Aldrich Road, Summertown, faces four charges of rape, two of arranging the prostitution of a child, one of making a threat to kill and one of possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

They were remanded in custody to appear at Aylesbury Crown Court on Friday, March 30.

Three more defendants in the case are facing court this afternoon.

They are a 37-year-old man who faces two charges of conspiracy to rape a child and one of supplying a class A drug to a child, a 32-year-old who faces one charge of rape and a 26-year-old man who faces 10 charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

The charges follow a series of dawn raids across Oxford on Thursday, under the codename Operation Bullfinch.

The investigation was launched after Oxfordshire County Council staff began to fear why several girls were disappearing from their homes.

Authorities believe 24 girls aged between 11 and 16 may have been affected.

Seven other men have been released on police bail until April while enquiries continue.