Two teenage defendants have been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to rape and sexual assault in Ipswich. 

The two males, both 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been charged with counts of rape and sexual assault.

The youths have been charged in connection with incidents including the rape of a woman in a towpath off Stoke Bridge, near the Waterfront, sometime between midnight and 1.30am on September 29. 

The pair have also pleaded not guilty in relation to an incident on October 2, where a woman, aged in her 30s, was allegedly sexually assaulted at a bar in the town centre at about 1.30am.

One of the youths was charged with one count of rape in connection with an incident on Friday, September 29 and four counts of sexual assault in connection with the incident on October 2. 

The other was charged with one count of rape in connection with the incident on Friday, September 29 and two counts of sexual assault in connection with the incidents on October 2.

On Wednesday, October 11, they both appeared at Suffolk Magistrates' Court and pleaded not guilty to all the charges. 

 The defendants are set to appear before Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, October 13. 

Judge Williams remanded the pair in custody until the preliminary hearing at Ipswich Crown Court.