Ten people - including six women -
were on trial accused of the child sex abuse which is said to have
centred around Marie Black, 34, of Norwich.
She denied 26 offences at Norwich
Crown Court but today, after 19 hours of deliberations and a three-month
trial, the jury convicted her of all but three counts.
She was found guilty of offences including rape, conspiracy to rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Michael Rogers, 53, from Romford,
Essex, was also found guilty of 14 counts including cruelty, rape and
inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Jason Adams, 43, a former cleaner at Norwich and Norfolk University Hospital, was found guilty of 13 similar counts.
Carol Stadler, 59, from Norwich, was
found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm but cleared of nine
other charges, including serious sexual assaults.
The remaining defendants - Anthony
Stadler, 63, Nicola Collins, 36, Andrew Collins, 52, Judith Fuller, 31,
Denise Barnes, 43, and Kathleen Adams, 85, all from Norwich - were
cleared of all counts.
On some occasions, the adults threw parties and played card games to decide who would abuse which child, Mrs Rafferty said.
In interviews the victims described how they were abused in front of one another and other adults.
They said the abuse became so routine the victims came to accept it as normal.
The children were preyed upon during
a period beginning around 15 years ago. Several victims described Black
and Jason Adams taking photos and laughing.
One male victim said: ‘There would
be parties and they would do some games where the boys were in one room
with the men and the girls were in another with the women.
‘The adults would have a card game
and the winner would get to choose a boy to start touching their private
parts and then hurt them afterwards.’
Describing Black, Mrs Rafferty said:
'Was she a helpless victim of abusive males or was she herself deeply
involved with the children's ill treatment?
'Many of the defendants have become good at appearing normal and respectable.
'This is what you would have to do in order to be child abusers to the extent alleged here.'
All of the defendants denied abusing the children, and claimed it simply did not happen.
During the trial it emerged that
police had launched an investigation in to the conduct of Norfolk County
Council social workers involved in the case.
The court heard that the trial had
originally been due to start last year only to be delayed when
prosecutors raised concerns over changes made by social workers to
statements taken from the children.
This resulted in Norfolk Police launching an investigation into alleged misconduct.
Sarah Elliott QC, representing
Black, told the court that at the time the county's children's services
department had recently failed an Ofsted inspection, being ranked
'inadequate' in all areas.
The guilty defendants will be sentenced this afternoon.
Speaking outside the court,
Detective Chief Inspector Pete Hornby praised the bravery of the victims
and said he was satisfied with the result of a 28-month investigation.
He added: 'This case provides a sickening glimpse into sexual abuse on a large scale.'
He said the force had concluded its
investigation into the allegations made against social workers and no
criminal charges would be brought.
Mr Hornby added: 'In their tender
years, these children were subjected to sexual abuse beyond most
people's imagination by adults they believed were telling the truth.
'It is the most harrowing case I have dealt with in 23 years of policing.
'Marie Black has been found to be at
the centre of this abuse and incited others to commit abuse against
them. She thought they would never speak out.
'Today's verdict is testament to the
children's bravery and to the hard work of dedicated professionals from
a range of agencies in this case.
'It has brought them the knowledge
they are believed and, I hope, will encourage other victims of abuse to
find their voice and come forward.'
Sheila Lock, interim executive director of Norfolk
children's services, said: 'Sexual abuse against children is an
horrific crime and still often goes under-reported or unnoticed.
'The victims in this case have shown
tremendous courage in speaking out and I hope that this verdict will
give other victims or witnesses the confidence to report abuse - because
agencies in Norfolk will listen and act.
'This was a complex case brought by
the Crown Prosecution Service, with our staff among several witnesses
who gave evidence in the proceedings.
'The needs of the children, who were
central to the prosecution case, have always been at the fore of our
minds and have been the main focus of all of the agencies involved.'
Source: Mail Online
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