TWO teenagers accused of a series of rapes, sexual assaults, and other offences across a period from May to July this year, two of which were said to have happened in West Somerset, will face trial next year in Taunton Crown Court.

The pair appeared on Friday (September 25) before Judge Richard Shepherd, who further remanded them in youth custody until March 3 next year, when a short plea and trial preparation hearing will be held.

Judge Shepherd was told the trial was estimated to need 10 days of court time.

The youths, aged 16 and 17 years, cannot be named because the law protects the identity of defendants aged under 18 years.

The pair had previously appeared after their arrests in Taunton Deane Magistrates Court on September 2 when they were committed to the crown court.

The 17-year-old, from Bridgwater, was said to have raped a 14-year-old girl, and raped and sexually assaulted a girl aged 13 years.

He was also accused of intentional strangulation of, and assault causing actual bodily harm to a woman, both of which were alleged to have happened in Minehead on May 29.

The 16-year-old, from Highbridge, was accused of the rape of a girl aged 14 years and raping and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

He was also alleged to have raped a vulnerable woman aged 16 or older, and faced two further counts of non-fatal strangulation and assault causing bodily harm on a woman.

The offences outside Minehead were said to have happened variously in Burnham on Sea on May 5, in Newquay, in Cornwall, on May 21, and in Weston super Mare on July 10.

No pleas were taken during Friday’s hearing, when both youths were represented in court by barristers Charley Pattison and Derek Perry.