In a statement, the police yesterday said that four Gozitan men were charged in court accused of a number of sexual offences.

Mark Lorry Said, Peter Paul Said, Josef Said and Peter Paul Debono aged 24, 34, 27 and 38 respectively, all hailing from Nadur were all charged with a string of offences committed on a girl who is still a minor.

Josef Said and Peter Paul Said were charged with raping the minor aggravated by violence, defiling the minor, withholding the minor against her will in order to take part in an act which offended her and offending public decency by committing an offence in a place accessible to the public. Both were also charged with being recidivists.

Peter Paul Said was further charged with participating in sexual acts with a minor and causing the victim to believe that violence would be used against her.

Peter Paul Debono and Mark Lorry Said were charged with defiling the minor, participating in sexual acts with a minor and offending public decency by committing an offence in a place accessible to the public.

The court presided by Magistrate A. Ellul ordered that the accused be held in preventive custody.

Inspector Graziella Muscat prosecuted.