Seven members of child sex abuse ring jailed after preying on children in drug den
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Seven members of a child sex abuse ring have been jailed after they preyed on children in a drug den.
Each will serve a jail term from eight to 20 years and will be monitored for life, it was heard at Glasgow High Court.
Seven people of those convicted - two women and five men - took part in a Scottish child abuse ring in "depths of human depravity".
All were convicted of gang-raping a child and abusing other children in a drug den in Glasgow where heroin and crack cocaine were used.
Iain Owens, 46; Elaine Lannery, 40; Lesley Williams, 43; Paul Brannan, 42; Scott Forbes, 51; Barry Watson, 48; and John Clark, 48, were convicted in November 2023 after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Four of the group - Owens, Lannery, Brannan and Williams - were found guilty of attempting to murder a child by pushing her into a microwave and trapping her in other places.
All were convicted of gang raping a child and abusing other children in a drug den in Glasgow
Police Scotland
Their sentencing had been postponed until December while risk assessments were conducted, which Judge Lord Beckett ordered as a result of the crimes' severity.
The eight-week-long trial heard "harrowing" evidence of systematic child sex abuse, as Lord Beckett said it "plunges to the depths of human depravity".
Previously, Beckett had said that he considered imposing orders for lifelong restriction - which are orders deployed to monitor high-risk offenders for the remainder of their lives if they are believed to be suitable for release from prison once they had served a minimum jail term.
The offences, involving three children, occurred between 2012 and 2019.
Owens, Lannery, Brannan, Williams, Forbes, Watson and Clark were found guilty of taking part in the gang rape of a child.
Owens and Lannery were also convicted of multiple counts of assault, sexual assault, rape and causing a child to ingest drugs and alcohol, as they were both handed jail sentences of 20 and 17 years respectively.
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Brannan was convicted of attempted murder, sexual assault, rape and supplying class-A drugs and was jailed for 15 years.
Williams was convicted of attempted murder, assault, rape and supplying drugs and has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment.
While Forbes was found guilty of rape, Watson and Clark were found guilty of rape and sexual assault.
Clark was jailed for 10 years, Watson for nine years and six months and Forbes for eight years.
During the trial, prosecutors dropped the allegation that the accused used an Ouija board to "call on spirits and demons" to lead the children to "believe that they could see, hear and communicate with spirits and demons" and forced them to engage in "witchcraft".
Co-accused Marianne Gallagher, 40, was found guilty of assaulting a child and was "admonished" when she appeared for her sentencing on January 6.
She was informed that she would be in "pretty severe trouble" if she committed further offences but was spared punishment by Lord Beckett.
Upon convicting the gang, Judge Lord Beckett said the case plunged “the depths of human depravity” and excused the jury from ever serving on another panel ever again, offering counselling for those who need it.
The seven received their sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow
PA
Sentencing the seven, Judge Lord Becket said he was "used to hearing the worst examples of human behaviour but such depravity towards young children is beyond my experience.”
However, he also said this case showed “the best of humanity”, making particular mention of the “formidable strength” of the children that showed “fortitude” and “resilience” in overcoming threats made to them by Iain Owens and share their experience in order to bring the gang to justice.
He also paid tribute to the children’s new caregivers: “It is possible to imagine from their desperate darkness, their carers have brought some light to their young lives - a home, a structure and nurture over a number of years.”
Detective Inspector Lesley-Ann McGee, of Police Scotland, said: “I hope today’s outcome can help the young victims in moving forward.
“This was a long, complex and challenging investigation for a team of officers and staff who had to work through the most harrowing evidence to bring those responsible for these despicable crimes to justice.
“Since the investigation began we’ve worked closely with a range of partners in social work, health, education, Crown Office and the third-sector to protect and support the victims.”
Katrina Parkes, Scotland’s Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: “I commend the bravery of the young victims; their strength has resulted in the conviction and sentence of their abusers for these heinous crimes.
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