Two men have gone on trial accused of using medication to cause a woman to have a miscarriage, a court has heard.

Stuart Worby, 39, and Wayne Finney, 41, have been charged with offences after a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered a "forced abortion of a 15-week old foetus".

Edmund Vickers KC, prosecuting, told Norwich Crown Court that Worby, of Malthouse Court, Dereham, and Finney, of Station Street, Swaffham - who were both friends - had "put their heads together" to see how they could get hold of drugs needed to "bring about a miscarriage".

Jurors were told how abortion medication was obtained by Finney after his partner, Nueza Cepeda, 39, from Walnut Way, Dereham, received it following a consultation with a gynaecologist in London.

Mr Vickers said the medication was administered to the victim by Worby - who is also accused of sexually assaulting her - prior to the miscarriage taking place.

He said the victim attended the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) on August 4 2022 after suffering painful cramps as well as "pain, bleeding and diarrhoea".

She later miscarried.

An examination carried out on the foetus at the hospital found there were traces of drugs "routinely prescribed for termination of pregnancy".

Mr Vickers said Cepeda has admitted an offence of supplying or procuring an instrument to be used with intent to procure a miscarriage.

Worby has denied administering a poison or using an instrument with intent to procure a miscarriage, in that between July 1 and August 5, 2022, he administered tablets to the victim resulting in a miscarriage.

He has also denied two counts of assault by penetration to the victim on August 3, 2022.

Finney has denied intentionally encouraging or assisting in the commission of the offence, in that he supplied medication that Worby gave to the victim.

The trial continues.