THREE young men raped women at gunpoint during a “vicious” campaign of robberies in brothels across east London, a court heard.

The gang from Hackney deliberately targeted prostitutes because they were vulnerable and selected who they believed were illegal immigrants for the worst attacks, Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.

One woman, who did not have permission to work in the UK, was repeatedly beaten with a crutch while being raped by three men at an address in High Road Leytonstone on Valentines Day this year.

Imani Williams, 21, of Brooksbys Walk, Hackney, Andre Victor, 21, of Fawcett Estate, Clapton, and Ibrahim Gunduz, 18, also of Fawcett Estate, Clapton, have admitted conspiring to rob six addresses, including four in Waltham Forest, between January 20 and February 21.

Ibrahim Gunduz has pleaded guilty to forcing a woman to perform oral sex on him but denies gang raping a prostitute the next day.

Jurors heard a complex mix of evidence and witnesses testimony over the six week trial, which is due to end today (Wednesday).

Mr Williams and Mr Victor both claim another man, Casey Edwards, was with them during the raids and must have been responsible for the attacks.

Graham Brown, prosecuting, described Casey Edwards as ‘the invisible man who mysteriously appears at places where there are no (CCTV) cameras”.

Police found no evidence that Mr Edwards was present during the attacks and Mr Gunduz also said there was no fourth man at the Valentines Day robbery.

He told the court he had seen Williams carrying a condom and had also seen Victor in a room with a prostitute with his genitals exposed.

The jury are set to begin deliberations today (Wednesday).