Brothers and two men face sex offences trial

A PROVISIONAL trial date has been set for four men - three of whom are from Huddersfield - accused of non-recent sex offences.

Manzoor Hassan, Zahid Hassan, Saqib Raheel and Sholan James are facing a total of 14 charges.

The charges include rape, rape of an underage child, attempted rape, controlling a child in relation to prostitution or pornography, sexual assault, sexual touching and supplying cocaine.

The offences allegedly happened between 2005 and 2014.

Manzoor Hassan, 40, is facing six charges - two counts of rape, two counts of controlling a child aged 13-17 in relation to prostitution or pornography, one count of sexually touching an underage girl and one count of supplying cocaine.

His younger brother Zahid Hassan, 31, is facing five charges - four counts of rape and one count of attempted rape.

Mr Raheel, 34, of Upper High Street, Cradley Heath, West Midlands, is facing two charges - rape of an underage girl and sexual assault of an underage girl.

Mr James, 30, of Holme Park Court, Berry Brow, Huddersfield, is facing one charge - assault of an underage girl by penetration.

The four men were due to appear in Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday afternoon for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Mr Raheel and Mr James appeared in the dock but the Hassan brothers, formerly of Bland Street, Lockwood, were not produced from custody.

None of the charges were put to the defendants during the hearing.

A further case management hearing was listed for March next year.

A trial was provisionally listed for May next year.