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Woman gets life term for child abuse Marie Black gets life term for child abuse
(about 1 hour later)
A woman at the centre of a "gruesome" child abuse ring which used children as "sexual playthings" has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years. A woman at the centre of a "gruesome" child abuse ring which passed children round "like toys" has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years.
Marie Black, 34, of Norwich, was convicted at Norwich Crown Court of 23 charges, including rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.Marie Black, 34, of Norwich, was convicted at Norwich Crown Court of 23 charges, including rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
"The case is the most harrowing it has been my misfortune to try. Victims were abused at parties and may have been offered in raffles.
"I and the jurors had to listen to the truly gruesome detail of what took place," said Judge Nicholas Coleman. "The case is the most harrowing it has been my misfortune to try," said Judge Nicholas Coleman.
"I and the jurors had to listen to the truly gruesome detail of what took place.
"Your conduct towards these children can only be described as utterly depraved - the children were subjected to sexual abuse of the worst kind."Your conduct towards these children can only be described as utterly depraved - the children were subjected to sexual abuse of the worst kind.
"They were simply passed around like toys." "They were simply passed around like toys," he said.
Conspiring to rape
The charges related to five young children - two boys and three girls - over a 10-year period.The charges related to five young children - two boys and three girls - over a 10-year period.
Michael Rogers, 46, from Romford, Essex, was found guilty of 14 counts, including cruelty, rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.Michael Rogers, 46, from Romford, Essex, was found guilty of 14 counts, including cruelty, rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Jason Adams, 44, from Norwich, was convicted of 13 similar counts.Jason Adams, 44, from Norwich, was convicted of 13 similar counts.
Both were sentenced to 24 years.Both were sentenced to 24 years.
The men were made subject to sexual harm prevention orders. The men were also made subject to sexual harm prevention orders, which allows the court to impose restrictions deemed necessary to protect the public.
Seven others stood trial, but were cleared of all charges. All three had denied the charges against them, with Black accused of 26 counts and found guilty of 23.
Seven others stood trial, six of whom were cleared of all charges.
Judge Coleman said: "You, Marie Black, were the constant factor in all of these crimes.Judge Coleman said: "You, Marie Black, were the constant factor in all of these crimes.
"The offences included adults conspiring to rape children at so-called sex parties."The offences included adults conspiring to rape children at so-called sex parties.
"You used them for you own, and for others', sexual gratification. "You used them for your own, and for others', sexual gratification."
"It amounts to child sexual abuse of the most serious kind." He said there was evidence the children were taken to other parts of the country where they were raffled for abuse by others.
He said was evidence the children were taken to other parts of the country where they were "raffled" for abuse by others. Black did not give evidence and was described by her barrister Sarah Elliott QC as "clearly a vulnerable, corrupted woman".
"The impetus for abusing the children comes from Adams and Rogers," she said.
"She was vilified throughout the trial and was blamed by everybody to exculpate themselves."
However, barristers representing Adams and Rogers rejected the notion that they had manipulated her.
Isabella Forshall QC, for Adams, said he had no previous convictions for sexual offences and Black was "the common denominator between all the offences."
Ann Cotcher QC said Rogers was a "naive" man who had sought to help Black and was not the instigator of sexual and physical abuse.
Co-defendant Carol Stadler, 59, from Norwich, was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm, but cleared of nine other charges including serious sexual assaults.
She is due to be sentenced.
Six others - Anthony Stadler, 63, Nicola Collins, 36, Andrew Collins, 52, Judith Fuller, 31, Denise Barnes, 43, and Kathleen Adams, 85, all from Norwich - stood trial but were cleared of all counts.