JURORS have this afternoon retired to consider their verdicts in the trial of nine men accused grooming and sexually abusing vulnerable young girls in Oxford.

The seven men and five women of the jury were sent out by the judge after hearing nearly 17 weeks of evidence and speeches at the Old Bailey.

The jury, which has sat in court for 55 days, is now considering 66 charges against the defendants which include child rape, sex trafficking, and arranging child prostitution.

The crimes are said to have been committed against six girls aged between 11 and 15 from 2004 and January last year.

The defendants, aged between 25 and 38, deny all charges.

Judge Peter Rook sent the jury out after finishing summing up the case over five days.

The accused are: Kamar Jamil, 27, of Aldrich Road, Summertown, Oxford, denies five rapes, two charges of conspiracy to rape, one of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and one of trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Akhtar Dogar, 32, of Tawney Street, East Oxford, denies five rapes, three charges of conspiracy to rape, two of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Anjum Dogar, 30, of Tawney Street, East Oxford, denies three rapes, three charges of conspiracy to rape, two of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Assad Hussain, 32, of Ashhurst Way, Rose Hill, Oxford, denies rape and two charges of sexual activity with a child.

Mohammed Karrar, 38, of Kames Close, Cowley, denies seven rapes, four charges of conspiracy to rape, two of trafficking for sexual exploitation, two of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, sexual assault, conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child, using an instrument to procure a miscarriage, and supplying a Class A drug to another.

Bassam Karrar, 33, of Hundred Acres Close, Cowley, denies three rapes, three charges of conspiracy to rape, two charges of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Mohammed Hussain, 24, of Horspath Road, Cowley, Oxford, denies three charges of sexual activity with a child.

Zeeshan Ahmed, 27, of Palmer Road, Wood Farm, Oxford, denies two charges of sexual activity with a child.

Bilal Ahmed, 26, of Suffolk Road, Maidenhead, denies sexual activity with a child.