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The 13 men were brought before Bolton Magistrate Court this week charged with various offenses allegedly committed against girls under the age of 16.

Brought in in groups of three and four, each of the 13 men watched from the sidelines as the proceedings unfolded.

Peter Williams, prosecutor, said: “I will invite your graces to assign this case to Bolton Crown Court for a plea hearing and trial preparation.”

He said the alleged crimes were too serious to be dealt with in magistrates court.

Ashley Darbyshire, 26 Bolton Road, Westhoughton, Daniel Flatters, 32 Laurel Avenue, Bolton, Jamie Fitzgerald, 34 Crossdale Road, Bolton and Richard Haslam, 34 Fir Avenue, Bolton were the first four brought to the dock.

Darbyshire, Flatters, Fitzgerald and Haslam (Image: AP)

Darbyshire was charged with 14 offences, including five counts of rape of a girl under 16, seven counts of sexual activity with a girl under 16, three counts of inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

Flatters was charged with a total of four counts, including one count of rape of a girl under the age of 16, two counts of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16 and one count of aggravated motor vehicle theft and bodily injury.

Fitzgerald was charged with one count of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.

Neither gave any indication of guilty or not guilty pleas, as the magistrates handed the case over to the crown court.

Linfoot and Corley (Image: AP)

Next to be brought in were Jack Poulson, 29 of Hill Lane, Blackrod, Michael Linfoot, 22 of Holt Lane, Chorley and Ross Corley, 28 of Station Road, Blackrod.

Poulson was charged with 10 counts, including four counts of rape of a woman under 16, five counts of sexual activity with a girl under 16 and one count of sexual communication with a girl under 16.

Linfoot was charged with one count of rape of a girl on 13/14/15, while Corley was charged with two counts of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.

Once again the men gave no indication of pleading and the case went to crown court, which is housed in the same building in Black Horse Street, Bolton.

Brandon Harwood, 23 Queen Street, Horwich, Corey Barrett, 22 Inwood Drive, Wigan and Harvie Aspden, 23 Deansgate, Bolton were the next three to be taken and again gave no indication of pleas of guilt or innocence.

harvie aspden (Image: AP)

Harwood had been charged with three counts of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.

Barrett was charged with seven counts, including three counts of rape of a girl under 16, two counts of sexual activity with a girl under 16, and two counts of sexual assault of a girl under 16.

Aspden charged with three counts of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.

His case passed along with those that preceded them to be heard at Bolton Crown Court.

Turner, Rae, and Hesketh (Image: AP)

Eventually Elliott Turner, 34 of Old Mill Lane, Bolton, Thomas Rae, 21 of Longfield Avenue, Chorley and Callum Hesketh, 22 of Barnet Crescent, Chorley were brought to the bench.

Turner was charged with a single count of rape of a girl under 16, while Rae was also charged with one count of rape of a girl under 16.

Hesketh was charged with taking an indecent or pseudo-photograph of a child.

Again, no indication was given and the magistrates handed the case over to the crown court.

The 13 men will now appear at Bolton Crown Court for a plea hearing and trial preparation later this year.

Until each was granted bail on the same terms.

As part of their bond, each of the 13 men was ordered to remain at home, not to have contact with any girl under the age of 16, not to have any association with each other, and not to have any contact with the alleged victims.

They were also ordered to stay away from an address in Blackrod.

His next hearing is set for Wednesday, May 10, 2023.