A Braintree man has been charged with rape and slavery offences following an investigation into a car wash.

Kujtin Rexha, 43, of Jeffreys Road, was charged and appeared at Colchester Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

He was charged with two counts of rape against an 18-year-old woman and three counts of slavery in relation to three men, two aged in their 20s and one in their 30s, who were made to work at the car wash in Colchester Road, Little Bentley.

The four victims are all believed to have come from Romania.

Kujtin entered no plea and has been remanded to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on July 27.

Senior Investigating Officer DCI John Ross said: "Essex Police take allegations of human trafficking extremely seriously and we need to protect and support the vulnerable victims of these offences.

"If anyone else has been a victim of this type of offence or knows that it is going on please contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with any information can contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.