TWO students have appeared in court charged with raping a young woman in York city centre.

Fahim Khan, 18, and Zaid Zahir, 20, appeared at York Magistrates’ Court today (August 30) each charged with one count of rape. They were arrested following an incident in the early hours of Wednesday, August 28.

Khan and Zahir, who had both been studying at York College, confirmed their names and addresses with the assistance of an interpreter but their solicitor Kevin Blount said they would not be making any indications as to plea at this stage.

Following the incident, police put two cordons in place while examining the scenes. One sealed off the riverside walkway alongside the river Foss next to the Coppergate Centre and the other taped off an area in North Street Gardens.

Deputy district judge Frank Appleyard sent the case to York Crown Court where the two defendants will appear on 23 September.

Khan, of Thorpe Lane, Cawood, and Zahir, of Rosebery Street, York, were remanded in custody until that date.