Three men who trapped a vulnerable teenager in a house before raping and assaulting her have been sentenced to a total of 24 years in prison.

Mechanic Nabeel Ahmed, 24, targeted the woman, who was 18 at the time, after he saw her in distress following an argument with her friend in the street.

He followed her in his car and offered her a lift to Chadwell Heath train station, but instead took her to pick up his 25-year-old friend Naeem Ahmed.

She asked to be driven to a friend's home but they took her to a house in Ilford where she was introduced to 24-year-old Hassan Raza.

Eventually she was taken to a bedroom to sleep but in the early hours of the next morning Naeem and Nabeel entered the room and raped her.

When they left, Raza came in and initially pretended to offer sympathy and help, before then sexually assaulting her.

When the woman finally escaped she went straight to police.

The attack, which happened in May 2012, was investigated by detectives from the Met's Trafficking and Prostitution Unit (TPU), who eventually arrested the men in December later that year.

Detective Sergeant John O'Brien of the TPU said: "Nabeel Ahmed chose this woman because she was vulnerable.

“Having befriended her, and convinced her he would help her, he instead took her to his friends and they all sexually abused her.

"The victim showed great bravery in reporting the offences to the police, and even greater courage in giving evidence.

“While no sentence could ever undo her suffering, I sincerely hope today's result will enable the victim to begin rebuilding her life.

"I urge all victims of rape to report the matter to the police, who have specially trained officers ready to provide them with the sensitive support that they need."

The men were convicted at Southwark Crown Court on July 19 and sentenced today at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Naeem Ahmed, a car salesman of Westminster Gardens in Barking, was sentenced to a total of 14 years for three counts of rape.

He was cleared of two other counts of rape and charges related to involvement in child prostitution.

Nabeel Ahmed, of Chadwell Heath Lane in Romford, and who is not a relation of Naeem, was sentenced to eight years for rape.

Hassan Raza, a caterer of Westminster Gardens in Barking, was sentenced to two years for sexual assault.

All three were also made to sign the Sex Offenders Register.