TWO men will appear at court tomorrow charged with a string of sex offences against Southend teenagers.

Colin Trotman and Glenn Dyett, both from East London, are accused of sexually exploiting three teenage girls over a four-month period.

Essex Police began an investigation in November 2012 following rape allegations from the girls which were linked together. Officers arrested the pair in February and June this year and they have been charged with several sexual offences that allegedly occured between August and November last year<12>.

Trotman, a 45-year-old unemployed man from Wetherell Road, Hackney, has been charged with two counts of rape against the same victim, two counts of engaging in sexual activity with two underage teenage girls, one count of conspiring to engage in penetrative sexual activity with an underage teenage girl and one count of observing a person doing a private act for sexual gratification.

Dyett, a 54-year-old unemployed man from Elderfield Road, Clapton, has been charged with one count of sexual touching, one count of conspiring to engage in penetrative sexual activity with an underage teenage girl, one count of engaging in sexual touching with an underage teenage girl, three counts of engaging in sexual activity with an underage teenage girl and one count of grooming an underage teenage girl.

Both men have been remanded in custody before appearing at Southend Magistrates Court in the morning.

A 34-year-old man from Shadwell, East London, was arrested in Southend on Monday, July 1 on suspicion of committing sexual offences in connection with this case. He is currently on police bail until Saturday, September 21 pending further enquiries.

Essex Police have not released the ages of the three girls involved.

A police spokesman said: “Throughout the police investigation, detectives have been working closely with Southend Council to ensure the safeguarding of the victims and their immediate families.”