Judge warns of danger if paedophiles freed

A “WITCHES and wizards” paedophile ring could “seriously endanger” young children's lives if its seven members were freed, a judge has said as he warned they faced life sentences.

Five men and two women were convicted in November in what is believed to be the largest prosecution of a child abuse ring in Scotland.

They were due to be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday, but Judge Lord Beckett said he first wanted a risk assessment conducted for each. These will help him assess if a lifelong restriction order should be placed on some or all of the gang members.

Three vulnerable youngsters in particular were subjected to rape, violence and drug taking at a hovel in the city.

This included one girl being pinned down and attacked as some of the gang cheered.

One girl was “put in an oven” as well as padlocked in a fridge. The same child described the flat as the “dark and scary beastie house”.

The “coven” of “witches and wizards” was said to have cast “spells”. A young boy was made to courier drugs.

During a trial, jurors had returned verdicts on 21 charges which occurred between April 2012 and June 2019.

Iain Owens, 45, was convicted of 18 charges including the rape of three children and the attempted murder of one involving shutting her in a microwave and other appliances, as well as other sex offences and class-a drug supply.

Elaine Lannery, 39, was convicted of the rape of the children among the 12 charges she faced. Lesley Williams, 42, was convicted of five charges including the rape of two girls.

Paul Brannan, 40, was found guilty of seven charges which included the rape of the three sex abuse victims.

Lannery, Williams and Brannan were also convicted of attempted murder.

Scott Forbes, 50, was found guilty of the rape of one of the girls. Barry Watson and John Clark, both 47, were found to have raped two of the young victims.

Marianne Gallagher, 39, was cleared of sex abuse, but convicted of being part of an assault on one girl. She was told to be on good behaviour for 12 months.

The judge said: “In light of the nature of the charges you are convicted, all the evidence led and the information on each of you it appears to me that with the nature of the circumstances of this offence, you may, at liberty, seriously endanger members of the public at large, particularly younger children.”

Many of the defendants continued to insist they were innocent, with some expecting to be cleared. Three of those on trial – Mark Carr, 49, Richard Gachagan, 46, and Leona Laing, 51 – were acquitted of all charges.

The case was deferred until Tuesday. All those convicted were remanded in custody.