THE trial of 13 men – nine from Teignbridge – accused or drug dealing, exploitation or rape has been moved from Exeter to Bristol Crown Court.

All but one of the defendants appeared by video link from Exeter or Bristol prisons - and all the cases were adjourned without pleas being taken.

The men from Teignmouth, Dawlish, Chudleigh, Newton Abbot, Exmouth, Sunderland and Liverpool, will be tried at Bristol Crown Court on September 23.

Judge David Evans remanded all defendants in custody. They will appear at Bristol Crown Court next month when they will be arraigned and expected to enter pleas.

The case arises from a police surveillance operation that culminated in raids across Teignbridge last month by the Serious and Organised Crime Team in which they seized drugs, cash, weapons, jewellery and cars.

The offences are all alleged to have taken place between May 2016 and September 2018.

James Brooks, aged 40, of Park Road, Dawlish, faces a total of 25 charges including controlling behaviour. assault, rape, attempted rape, arranging the travel of a woman with the intention of her being exploited, conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin and drug supply.

Stephen Green, aged 37, of Prospect Terrace, Newton Abbot, is accused of four counts of rape, conspiracy to supply drugs, and criminal damage.

Ross Morton, aged 31, of West View, Roker, Sunderland; and Nazrul Islam, aged 35, of Somerset Place, Teignmouth, are both accused of two counts of rape and two of conspiracy to supply drugs. Islam is accused of unauthorised possession of a firearm.

Lewis Longhorne, aged 24, of Dawlish Park Terrace, Exmouth, faces one count of raping a woman and one count of attempting to rape a woman.

John Trott, aged 36, of Shackleton Walk, Teignmouth, is accused of two counts of rape, conspiracy to supply class A, and personal possession of cannabis.

The remaining defendants are accused of drug supply, possession with intent, or conspiracy to supply the class A drugs cocaine and heroin.

They are: Keiron Archbold, aged 21, of Coronation Avenue, Dawlish; John White, aged 35, of Lower Trindle Close, Chudleigh; John Jackson, aged 29, of Lower Brimley Road, Dawlish; Lewis Williams, aged 20, of Springwood Avenue, Liverpool; Marvin Grant, aged 32, of Fir Avenue, Liverpool; Martin Turner, aged 41, of Shackleton Walk, Teignmouth, and John Rowntree, aged 35, of Dawlish.