UK Paedo Ring Of "Witches & Wizards" Face Life Behind Bars

Seven members of a depraved child sex ring have been told that they face a possible life sentence after subjecting multiple youngsters to depraved abuse.

The five men and two women, who repeatedly raped, attacked and brutalised the vulnerable children at a dirty hovel known as the 'beastie house', were branded a potential danger to the public by a judge at the High Court in Glasgow today.

The gang subjected three children to years of devastating abuse and even got their victims to take part in 'occult practices' such as casting 'spells' and making them believe they were turning into animals as part of a satanic 'coven'.

Iain Owens, 45, was convicted of 18 charges including the rape of the three children and the attempted murder of one involving shutting her in a microwave and other kitchen appliances. The jobless addict was also guilty of other sex offences and class A drug supply.

Elaine Lannery, 39, was convicted of 12 charges including the rape of the children.

Lesley Williams, 42, was convicted of five charges including the rape of two girls.

Paul Brannan, 40, meantime was guilty of seven charges which also featured the rape of all the three sex abuse victims.

Lannery, Williams and Brannan had also been convicted of attempted murder.

Scott Forbes, 50, was convicted of the rape of one girl.

Barry Watson and John Clark, both 47, joined them in the dock having been found to have raped two of the young victims.

Marianne Gallagher was cleared of sex abuse, but was convicted of being part of an assault on one girl. The 39-year-old was spared jail and was ordered to be of good behaviour for 12 months.

In the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, Judge Lord Beckett said he would send them for a risk assessment before passing sentence,but warned them they all faced potential lifelong restrictions for their crimes.

'All of you were convicted of sexual abuse of a young child in the most appalling circumstances,' he said.

'All the crimes you were convicted of are serious. All the sexual cases are of extreme gravity.'

He added: '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.

'I'm close to concluding the risk criteria may be met in which I will be bound to impose a risk assessment order.

'It is not inevitable that an order of lifelong restriction may be imposed on all or any of you. You are not all in the same position and the court will consider the case of each of you and your own circumstances and the charges you were convicted.

'Understand each of you face a substantial prison sentence and these may be extended.'

In such cases, the offender will also be ordered to serve a minimum period in jail - a punishment part - before they could be considered for a parole bid.

The case was deferred until Tuesday next week for a risk assessor to be identified for each person.

The group, who were convicted after a harrowing nine-week trial last year, were remanded in custody meantime.