A former Folkestone resident has been charged with attempting to arrange the forced marriage of a teenage girl.

Sami Firat allegedly used violence, threats or coercion to carry out the offence over the space of more than a year.

Firat has also been charged with arranging or facilitating the travel of the girl to Turkey, with a view to her being exploited.

The 48-year-old was arrested following an investigation by Kent Police's Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking team.

He was taken into custody at Bristol Airport on Wednesday evening, after returning to the UK from Austria.

Firat, of St Mary Street in Thornbury, Bristol, was remanded in custody after appearing before Medway magistrates court today.

He will appear at crown court on Monday October 19.

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