Two men and three boys deny alleged rape charges

Two men and three teenage boys have pleaded not guilty to charges following the alleged rape of a girl in Gravesend.

The teenager was allegedly raped by four of the defendants between 22 March and 18 April this year at a property in the Kent town.

Ionut Dobre, 34, of Cleanthus Road, Woolwich, denied two counts of rape and a charge of assault by penetration, and Benone Irofte, 46, of Salisbury Road, Gravesend, denied two counts of aiding and abetting rape.

Two 16-year-old boys each pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and a 15-year-old boy denied a single rape charge at Woolwich Crown Court. The three cannot be named for legal reasons.

A trial was listed to begin on 19 October and is expected to last between four and six weeks. A pre-trial review was scheduled for 23 September.

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