TWO teenagers have been convicted of raping a girl in Colchester town centre after they met on the internet.

Jean-Claude Rugero, 18 of Hainault, near Chigwell, and a 17-year-old youth who cannot be named for legal reasons, were found guilty of raping the 17-year-old girl on St Botolph’s roundabout last year.

At Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, a jury of seven women and five men reached a majority verdict of ten to two after more than 11 hours of deliberation.

A second charge against Rugero, of aiding and abetting rape, was discontinued by the prosecution.

Judge David Turner QC released both teenagers on bail while reports were made ahead of their sentencing next month.

But he warned them: “Custody is, I want to say, a certainty unless something emerges.

“I think they need to prepare themselves for that.”

They were also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register before they left court.

During the two-week trial, the defence claimed the victim had consensual sex with both defendants in August last year after getting to know them on social networking websites and over the phone.

The youth claimed she had previously sent a sexually explicit photo by text and was “up for it” on the night of the attack.

The victim, who had been celebrating her birthday, said she had agreed to meet the pair.

But she later changed her mind and they only met by chance when they drove past as she was walking home alone.

The court heard they then led her through an underpass into the middle of the roundabout before taking it in turns to rape her.