Seven men plead not guilty

Seven men charged in connection with an investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation have entered pleas of not guilty at Norwich Crown Court today (Friday 19 June 2026).

The men are accused of committing numerous sexual offences between August 2023 and May 2025 against two victims who were aged early-to-mid teens when the alleged offences took place.

All seven defendants appeared at Norwich Crown Court today (Friday 19 June 2026) as part of a pre-trial preparation hearing.

They entered pleas of not guilty and were remanded in custody ahead of their trial, set for 11 January 2027.

The men are Afghan nationals and refugees. None of the suspects have lived at asylum hotels in Norfolk and none of the offending in these offences happened in asylum hotels.

They were arrested as part of a coordinated police operation held on Wednesday (20 May 2026) when officers raided seven addresses, six in Norwich and one in Dumbarton, Scotland, that led to the seven men being arrested.

An eighth suspect – a 19-year-old man – was arrested by officers from the Garda Siochana on Friday 22 May 2026 and remains in custody in Ireland. We continue to pursue legal processes to seek his return to the UK.

Full details of the defendants can be found here: Seven men remanded in group-based CSE investigation – Norwich | Norfolk Constabulary