A MAN accused of raping and selling girls for sex told police he may have been ‘set up’ by the alleged victims, the Old Bailey heard yesterday.

The Oxford sex exploitation trial heard defendant Anjum Dogar told police the girls were “troubled” and “influenced by drugs”.

In an interview transcript read to the jury, Dogar said the girls did not have homes or parents.

He said: “The way I see it is troubled kids making up allegations.

“I can get people to talk about their characters here.

“They are well known, some of these girls.”

The jury also heard a recording of a police interview with his brother Akhtar Dogar in September 2006 when the complainant known as Girl 1 claimed he had raped her.

The then married 25-year-old said it would be “disgusting” to have sex with an underage girl.

He also said the teenager had got him mixed up with someone else.

Girl 1, who gave evidence in January, claims she was raped and prostituted between the ages of 12 and 15 by Akhtar and Anjum Dogar, and Kamar Jamil.

But Akhtar Dogar said she was a “good friend” who he felt sorry for.

He told police: “I haven’t raped her.

“All I have treated her as is a good friend.

“She is confused or something. She has been around everywhere.

“She has seen a lot of coloured people and a lot of Asian people. I feel sorry for her.

“It’s confusion in Oxford. There’s a lot of Asian people in Oxford.”

He also said she had spoken to him about family problems when they smoked cigarettes together.

He said: “She has got stress in her mind. She has got a lot of problems.

“I feel sorry for her.

“I do care about her. I want to look after her.”

He later said he had “a good heart” adding: “She needs help.”

The court heard that the defendant said he had met the girl three months earlier and thought she was 15.

He also said he had never seen her drink alcohol or take drugs, and had only ever cuddled her.

In the interview he said he had been married for three years and had not had sex with anyone other than his wife since.

Girl 1 later withdrew the complaint, the jury heard.

The court later heard a transcript of an interview with Bassam Karrar in November 2006 after Girl 3 claimed he raped her at the Nanford Guest House.

He said she had wanted to have sex with him and to be a friend at the same time.

And when he was told she was 14 he said: “I'm shocked.

“I feel betrayed. I feel stupid now.”

All nine defendants deny all charges.

The trial will resume on Monday after legal procedures today and tomorrow.

The defendants and charges:

  • Kamar Jamil, 27, of Aldrich Road, Summertown, Oxford, denies four rapes, three charges of conspiracy to rape, two of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and one of trafficking for sexual exploitation.
  • Akhtar Dogar, 32, of Tawney Street, East Oxford, denies six rapes, three charges of conspiracy to rape, three of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and trafficking for sexual exploitation.
  • Assad Hussain, 32, of Ashhurst Way, Rose Hill, Oxford, denies two charges of conspiracy to rape and three of sexual activity with a child.
  • Anjum Dogar, 31, of Tawney Street, East Oxford, denies four rapes, three charges of conspiracy to rape, three of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and trafficking for sexual exploitation.
  • Mohammed Karrar, 38, of Kames Close, Cowley, denies seven rapes, four charges of conspiracy to rape, an alternative charge of conspiracy to commit sexual activity with a child, two of trafficking for sexual exploitation, two of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, assault, conspiracy to assault, using an instrument to procure a miscarriage, and supplying a Class A drug.
  • Bassam Karrar, 33, Hundred Acres Close, Cowley, denies three rapes, three charges of conspiracy to rape, two charges of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, trafficking for sexual exploitation, and conspiracy to assault.
  • Mohammed Hussain, 24, of Horspath Road, Cowley, Oxford, denies rape, conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child, and two charges of sexual activity with a child.
  • Zeeshan Ahmed, 27, of Palmer Road, Wood Farm, Oxford, denies two charges of conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child and two charges of sexual activity with a child.
  • Bilal Ahmed, 26, of Suffolk Road, Maidenhead, denies conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child and sexual activity with a child.