Two men in court over alleged early hours rape

Two men have appeared in court charged with the rape of a woman in Plymouth.

Hashmat Miakhel, 31, and Sayed Hoshmand, 19, appeared before Plymouth Magistrates' Court, said Devon and Cornwall Police.

Both men are accused of raping a woman at a house in the Sherford area in the early hours of Sunday, officers said.

The men, who police said were Afghan nationals, were remanded in custody to appear at Plymouth Crown Court on 1 June.

Det Insp Katy Deer, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said after the hearing: "We understand the concern an incident such as this may cause. However, as court proceedings are now active, I ask the public not to speculate and respect the legal process."

The force said it had released the information about the nationality of the men "to remain open and transparent with our communities".

National guidance from the National Police Police Chiefs Council issued last year provides guidance on releasing such information on people being charged with offences, which is a decision of the individual force.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.