A JUDGE has told jurors to treat an alleged child sex victim's evidence with care.

The unnamed complainant known as Girl 5 claims she had sex with four of the nine men accused of running a child sex exploitation ring in Oxford.

And summing up the trial for a fifth day, Judge Peter Rook reminded the jurors of her story.

But he warned them the 16-year-old had contradicted herself in the witness box.

He said: "You will need to treat her evidence with care.

"It is quite clear, you may think, that she was a vulnerable girl and a suggestible girl.

"That means that you sometimes need to consider her answers in the context of the questions. Clearly it's very important that she fully understood the questions."

DNA from Assad and Mohammed Hussain, and Zeeshan Ahmed was found by police in Girl 5's underwear. They all admit having sex with her but deny they knew she was underage a the time.

Bilal Ahmed denies ever having sex with her.

Judge Rook told the jury defence lawyers had said Girl 5 dressed to look older and lied about her age.

But he said she said: "I never talked about my age."

And: "I never tried to look older."

The judge also reminded the jury that married Assad Hussain had told the court he was "quite surprised" and felt "betrayed" when he found out Girl was 14 when he had sex with her.

All nine defendants deny all charges. The trial continues.

 

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, 31, 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.