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.

Judge Peter Rook, summing up the case for a third day yesterday, said 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.”

The unnamed complainants known as Girl 1, 2, and 3, told the jury earlier in the trial they were abused by the Dogar brothers, of Tawney Street, East Oxford, between the ages of 13 and 15.

But barristers representing the brothers, of Tawney Street, East Oxford, argued the case against them was not compelling enough to require answers.

The Dogars deny any sexual contact with the girls.

After 16 weeks of the London trial, the jury is now expected to retire to insider its verdicts on Thursday.

The nine defendants deny all 66 charges.

The trial continues.