Three British men face rape charges in Croatia after alleged attack at beach hotel

Three British men have appeared in court in Croatia accused of gang raping a local woman at a hotel in the popular holiday resort of Split.

Ami Arifi, 29, Gezhim Xhafa, 28, and Sohqib Shakibi, 24, all from London, were brought before an investigating judge on Thursday and have been remanded in custody while further investigations continue.

The alleged attack took place on Tuesday, and Croatian police say the 28-year-old local woman was the victim of a premeditated assault. If convicted, the men could each face up to ten years behind bars.

One of the suspects is said to have offered €30,000 in bail, but the offer was rejected by the court.

According to local reports, the men met the woman on Matejuška, a popular waterfront spot in Split. She reportedly took a ride on a motorbike with one of the suspects and later accepted their invitation to join them at their four-star hotel room at around 5.30am.

The court was told that once inside the room, the first defendant began insulting and swearing at her, bit her lips, and touched her private parts. When the woman objected and said the behaviour was hurting her, he allegedly continued the assault.

It is further alleged that the man took the woman's mobile phone and encouraged her to have sexual intercourse with the second defendant. Out of fear, she reportedly agreed and went to another room with him.

Later, the first defendant is said to have asked the woman to perform oral sex on the third man. She told the court he bit her and touched her across her body, and although she resisted, she eventually managed to escape and call her ex-boyfriend, who alerted police.

Officers arrived at the hotel and arrested one of the suspects in the room. The remaining two were located shortly after.

The court heard that the ordeal lasted around two hours. All three men deny the allegations and claim that any sexual activity was consensual.

The two of the suspects are originally from Kosovo but now hold British citizenship, as does the third.