Five teenagers charged in connection with rape

Five teenagers have appeared in court charged in connection with the rape of a 16-year-old girl in Rochdale.

Imtiaz Syed (born 21/04/89) of Ellesmere Street, Freehold, Rochdale, has been charged with rape and sexual assault and Tayyab Hussain (born 26/11/90) of Henry Street, Freehold, Rochdale, was charged with rape.

A 17-year-old has been charged with two offences of rape and one of sexual assault, and a 16-year-old boy is charged was charged with aiding and abetting sexual assault.

Mohammed Usman Raja (born 24/12/88) of Freetrade Street, Freehold, Rochdale, is charged with perverting the course of justice.

The charges relate to allegations a 16-year-old girl was sexually attacked at a house in Boundary Street, Rochdale, on 28 May 2008.

The five defendants appeared before Rochdale Magistrates' Court on Monday 22 December 2008.