Two men and three boys have entered not guilty pleas to charges connected with the rape of a teenage girl at a residence in Kent. The alleged incidents took place at a private address in Gravesend between March 22 and April 18 this year. The victim is said to have been repeatedly raped inside the property over several days.
Court Appearance
The five defendants appeared at Woolwich Crown Court today, assisted by two Romanian interpreters. Each denied the charges as they were read aloud during the hearing. Judge Daniel Dyal presided over the proceedings and called for all future hearings to be held in person. He set a provisional trial date for October 19 this year, with an estimated duration of four to six weeks.
Details of the Charges
Ionut Dobre, 33, from Woolwich, faces two counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration. Two 16-year-old boys from Gravesend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have each been charged with two counts of rape. A 15-year-old boy, also from Gravesend, has been charged with one count of rape. Additionally, Benone Inofte, 46, from Gravesend, has been charged with two counts of aiding and abetting a rape.
Previous Hearings
At a prior hearing on April 24, both men were remanded into custody, while two of the boys were placed in youth detention. The third boy was released into the care of the local authority. A Kent Police spokesperson provided further context: 'On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Kent Police received reports a teenage girl had been raped at a private property on Salisbury Road between March 25 and April 19. An investigation was launched, and two men and three boys were arrested on Tuesday, April 21, and Wednesday, April 22. Ionut Dobre, 33, of Cleanthus Road, Woolwich, was charged with rape on Friday, April 24, alongside two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old, all from Gravesend. Benone Inofte, 46, of Salisbury Road, Gravesend, was charged the same day with aiding and abetting a rape. They appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court on Friday, April 24, and will next appear at Woolwich Crown Court on May 22.'
