THAMES Valley Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following an alleged rape this weekend.

A teenage girl told police she was raped in London Street, Faringdon, in the early hours of Sunday.

Shane Blake, 25, of London Street in Faringdon, has been charged with rape.

He appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court today and remains in police custody.

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A 19-year-old woman from Leafield, West Oxfordshire, has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and has been released on police bail until September 3.

The force said it has voluntarily referred itself to the IOPC in relation to the incident.

The office investigates potential police misconduct.

An IOPC spokesperson said: "A referral has been made to the IOPC by Thames Valley Police following a report of a rape in Faringdon, Oxfordshire.

"The referral is with our assessment unit."