Predators who raped underage girls jailed for 14 years

TWO sexual predators took underage girls from a care home then plied them with alcohol and raped them.

John Delaney and John James Purcell – who were said to be “excited by [the] extreme youth” of their vulnerable victims – also trafficked the girls around the country to use them as a “sexual resource”.

The pair were jailed for 14 years each at Mold Crown Court yesterday.

During their trial the court heard graphic details of how they had plied the girls with alcohol and raped them, North Wales Live reports.

Delaney had denied knowing one of the girls was from a children’s home prosecutors described how on one occasion a van turned up outside the home for looked-after children and a loud-hailer was used to call a girl’s name to get her attention.

Prosecutor John Phillpotts told their trial that “the defendants knew how old those girls were and, indeed, seemed to be excited by their extreme youth”.

In evidence Delaney had described one of the girls as “looking about 17”.

Delaney, 33, from Wrexham, was found guilty of three sex trafficking offences, two counts of rape, and a count of sexual assault.

Purcell 31, from Ellesmere Port, was found guilty of four sex trafficking charges and two counts of rape.

Speaking after the sentencing detective chief inspector Alun Oldfield of North Wales Police said: “I would like to thank the victims in this traumatic case for having the courage to come forward and give evidence against these men who ruthlessly exploited them.

“John Anthony Delaney and John James Purcell have rightly been given lengthy custodial sentences for the rape and trafficking of children.

“Hopefully the victims can now move on with their lives in the knowledge that these paedophiles have been brought to justice.

“This has been a lengthy and protracted investigation and I’d like to thank the Operation Lenten team for their steadfast work in bringing these criminals to justice and Flintshire Social Services for their support.

“I would also encourage anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse, no matter how long ago, to contact North Wales Police. We will deal with complaints in a supportive, sensitive and appropriate manner.”

Sandra Subacchi, of the Crown Prosecution Service, added: “These men preyed on the vulnerability of these teenage girls, sometimes seeking them out and encouraging them to leave their care home to go with them.

“They deliberately manipulated the girls and used alcohol as a way of breaking their will, sometimes getting them so drunk that they were not able to stop the men from doing as they wished.

“The defendants treated these girls as property rather than people and used them as objects to fulfil their sexual desires.

“We hope the conclusion of the case will help the women to move forward with their lives.”