Four men have been charged with raping an Orthodox Jewish teenager in the Crown Heights neighbourhood of Brooklyn in 2003.

The girl, who is now in her early 20s, was also allegedly beaten and forced into prostitution for the following eight years.

Prosecutors said the men threatened to hurt family members if she informed the authorities.

The woman came forward with the allegations after years of silence while studying a law course at college.

Her professor, Jeff Kern, described her as "a diamond in the rough" and said her achievements in spite of what she had endured were remarkable.