JURORS have been told not to "jump to conclusions" about child sex suspects who did not defend themselves at the Old Bailey.

Brothers Akhtar and Anjum Dogar did not give evidence against charges including rape and arranging child prostitution. They are among nine men to deny involvement in a child sex exploitation gang in Oxford.

The unnamed alleged victims known as Girl 1, 2, and 3, told the jury earlier in the trial they were abused by the brothers between the ages of 13 and 15.

Judge Peter Rook told the jury this morning that Akhtar Dogar, 32, had the right not to give evidence as it was the prosecution's burden to prove him guilty.

But he said: "There is no evidence on oath for him capable of contradicting or undermining the case for the prosecution."

And speaking about 31-year-old Anjum Dogar's decision not to give evidence, the judge said: "That was his right. You must not jump to any conclusions simply because of his silence. It does not prove the case against him."

Barristers representing the brothers, of Tawney Street in East Oxford, argued the case against them was not compelling enough to require an answer.

The judge also reminded the jurors of the evidence given by defendant Kamar Jamil who is accused of raping and abusing Girl 1 and 2.

Jamil had admitted knowing the Dogar brothers but said he did not know his alleged victims. He also said he did not know girls were being sexually exploited in the city.

Judge Rook told the jury: "(He said) He was not part of any group picking up underage girls and then manipulating them for the purposes of sex."

The jury were also reminded of evidence given by Girl 3 who claims she was trafficked and sold for sex by Mohammed Karrar and raped by his brother Bassam Karrar at the Nanford Guest House in November 2006.

She also claims she was abused by the Dogars.

The abuse is said to have happened when she was aged between 13 and 15 from July 2005 to July 2008.

The young woman told the court in February: "During this period of my life it was terrifying. I had no control of myself."

She also said: "I felt like I was owned by these men.

"I was just someone there to abuse."

The defendants deny all charges. The trial continues.