A TEENAGER has appeared in court charged with rape after an incident on New Year’s Eve.

A TEENAGER has appeared in court charged with three counts of rape after an incident on New Year's Eve.

Lewis McKinney, 18, of Bellfield Avenue, Brightlingsea, is accused of three counts of rape and one count of assault at an address in the town.

Police said they were called to a house shortly before 9.30pm by a woman who said she and a friend had been assaulted.

Officers arrived to find a 49-year-old woman and a 60-year-old woman in a distressed state, a police spokesman said.

McKinney, who is unemployed, was arrested shortly afterwards and appeared before Chelmsford magistrates on Saturday morning.

The teenager, who did not enter any pleas, was remanded in custody until the next hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court in March.