Trial date set by Nottingham Crown Court for teenagers accused of rape in Newark Parish Church gardens

The trial date for three teenagers charged with rape, and one with aiding the offences, has been set for next year.

Two boys aged 16, one aged 17, and one 18, all from the Newark area, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (May 2).

Their charges relate to an offence on December 28, 2023, at the Newark Parish Church gardens.

One 16 year old faces a single charge of rape, the 17-year-old is accused of two counts of rape, and the 18-year-old two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape.

The other 16-year-old faces three counts of aiding or abetting these offences.

All relate to a single female, who was aged 16 or over at the time of the offence, and all have pleaded not guilty.

The 18-year-old defendant also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of rape of a women aged 16 or over, relating to an incident on February 18, 2023, which also occurred in Newark.

The judge has ruled that reporting restrictions made under section 45 remain on the defendants — including the publication of their names, addresses, any school or educational establishment they attend and images of the defendants — will remain until they turn 18, or until the court decides otherwise.

This direction does not affect the ability to report and identify the 18-year-old defendant, who has been named as Ernest Smith, and these restrictions will also be lifted when the 17-year-old turns 18 later this year.

The trial has been set for February 9, 2026.