Paedophile gang who preyed on victims in a drugs den jailed
Paedophile gang who preyed on victims in a drugs den jailed
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Members of a paedophile gang that ran a "monstrous" child sex abuse ring in a Glasgow drugs den have each been sentenced to an order for lifelong restriction. Warning: This story contains graphic content and details of sexual abuse. An order for lifelong restriction (OLR) is the equivalent of a life sentence for non-murder cases in Scotland.
During a two-month trial, a court heard how three children were introduced to a world of Class A drugs and alcohol where they were regularly exposed to sexual abuse and violence. A jury heard how there had been "rape nights" at the hands of the heroin addicts.
The youngsters, who referred to the location of their abuse as the "beastie house", claimed money was exchanged after the heinous sex attacks while some of the attackers laughed. Judge Lord Beckett described the trial at the High Court in Glasgow in 2023 as "unpleasant and shocking".
He added: "It plunges to the depths of human depravity.". Seven people - Iain Owens, Elaine Lannery, Lesley Williams, Paul Brannan, Scott Forbes, Barry Watson, and John Clark - were all found guilty of rape and sexual assault. Owens, Lannery, Williams and Brannan were also found guilty of attempting to murder a child by trapping them in various places including a microwave and a cupboard.
In addition, Owens, Williams and Brannan were convicted of drugs offences. All seven were handed an OLR when they appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday. Owens was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years behind bars; Lannery 17 years; Williams 14 years; Brannan 15 years; Forbes eight years; Watson nine-and-a-half years; and Clark 10 years.
