Two remanded on rape charges

• Update: Richard Mulryne was cleared of the rape charge and found not guilty on 21 May 1998.

Two men were remanded in custody for a week yesterday accused of raping a girl under the age of 16. John Hammond, 71, and Richard Mulryne, 28, both from Portsmouth, Hampshire, face charges of raping the same girl. Mr Hammond is alleged to have carried out the assault between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1996, while Mr Mulryne is alleged to have raped the girl between 1 January 1994 and 6 March 1997.

They were remanded in custody by Portsmouth magistrates until 13 March. Both men were arrested during dawn raids by Hampshire Police on Wednesday, when 11 people were taken into custody after a major investigation into alleged child abuse.