A CHILD sex gang targeted, groomed, and exploited young girls over nearly eight years in a “pattern repeated time and time again”, the Old Bailey heard yesterday.

The trial of nine men accused of running an underage sex ring in Oxford also heard girls from troubled home lives were “ideal candidates” to be targeted.

The defendants deny abusing six complainants aged between 11 and 15 from 2004 to January last year.

The jury has heard evidence for the past three months. That was completed last week.

In his closing speech yesterday, prosecutor Noel Lucas told the jury: “I told you in opening that the complainants had been actively targeted because they were vulnerable young girls; children who were out playing truant.

“Having heard the evidence in the case, you may feel that that is precisely what happened.

“We submit it is a pattern which repeats itself time after time in this case.”

He said the alleged victims known as Girl 1, 2, 3, and 4 – who claim they were raped and trafficked for sex from 2004 to 2008 – were all vulnerable young women.

He said: “Each had been found by various combinations of these defendants. Each had been groomed.

“Each had been provided with affection, alcohol and drugs and gifts. Each was made to provide sexual services.”

The prosecution barrister also said defendants had used “incremental steps” that “gradually eroded the free will of each of the girls”.

He said the evidence showed the men groomed the girls with drink and presents, before they began asking for sex.

They then started to pester the girls for sex before threatening them, and then ordering them to do it, he said. If they still refused, they would be forced, the court heard.

Mr Lucas said it was clear brothers Akhtar and Anjum Dogar, as well as brothers Mohammed and Bassam Karrar, were all involved in the organised abuse of the girls.

He said: “The evidence shows that these two pairs of brothers were significant organisers of sex parties both in Oxford and in neighbouring towns.”

The prosecutor also questioned why four of the defendants – Akhtar and Anjum Dogar, Bassam Karrar and Zeeshan Ahmed – had declined to give evidence.

He said: “The conclusion we invite you to draw is that each of those four defendants had no explanation to place before you about which they felt any confidence you would believe.

“Having no confidence in their own story they provided you with no story.”

Judge Peter Rook last week told the jury he hoped to send them out to consider verdicts on May 1.

The defendants deny all the charges.

The trial continues.