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| Twenty-one convicted in West Midlands child sex abuse inquiry | Twenty-one convicted in West Midlands child sex abuse inquiry |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| David Baker, James Evans, Mark Smith, Natalie Wellington and Tracey Baker were among the defendants given prison sentences after the trials | |
| Twenty-one people have been convicted for their parts in the largest ever child sex abuse case investigated by West Midlands Police. | Twenty-one people have been convicted for their parts in the largest ever child sex abuse case investigated by West Midlands Police. |
| The offending against seven children, who were 12 years old or younger, took place over nearly a decade in Walsall and Wolverhampton. | The offending against seven children, who were 12 years old or younger, took place over nearly a decade in Walsall and Wolverhampton. |
| The abuse came to light after concerns were raised following a hospital visit by one of the victims. | The abuse came to light after concerns were raised following a hospital visit by one of the victims. |
| Thirteen of the defendants have been jailed with four to be sentenced later. | Thirteen of the defendants have been jailed with four to be sentenced later. |
| Of those already imprisoned, sentences range from 28 months to life. Four people have been given non-custodial sentences. | Of those already imprisoned, sentences range from 28 months to life. Four people have been given non-custodial sentences. |
| The case can only now be reported because a series of trials which began last year has ended. | The case can only now be reported because a series of trials which began last year has ended. |
| Det Ch Supt Paul Drover said the children suffered "some of the most shocking abuse that I've seen in my career" | Det Ch Supt Paul Drover said the children suffered "some of the most shocking abuse that I've seen in my career" |
| West Midlands Police said the victims, some of whom were now adults, suffered "significant physical and mental harm". | West Midlands Police said the victims, some of whom were now adults, suffered "significant physical and mental harm". |
| The force's investigation took six years and the trial process was delayed due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns. | The force's investigation took six years and the trial process was delayed due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns. |
| The offences against the children were "some of the most shocking abuse that I've seen in my career", Det Ch Supt Paul Drover said. | The offences against the children were "some of the most shocking abuse that I've seen in my career", Det Ch Supt Paul Drover said. |
| "They have been through a significant amounts of trauma. To get the confidence to come forward and to talk to care professionals, to police is huge and I am genuinely thankful," he added. | "They have been through a significant amounts of trauma. To get the confidence to come forward and to talk to care professionals, to police is huge and I am genuinely thankful," he added. |
| A report by the Walsall Safeguarding Children's Board, which has investigated whether opportunities to intervene earlier were missed, is expected to be published soon. | A report by the Walsall Safeguarding Children's Board, which has investigated whether opportunities to intervene earlier were missed, is expected to be published soon. |
| Twenty two people were prosecuted during the three trials which can now be reported. They faced numerous charges including child sex abuse and child cruelty offences: | |
| James Evans, 38, Eyland Grove, Walsall, jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years and given a sexual harm prevention order for life | |
| David Baker, 41, Park Avenue, Walsall, jailed for 20 years with a further year on licence, given a restraining order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | |
| Mark Smith, 34, Bloxwich Road, Walsall, jailed for 19 years with a further six years on licence and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years | |
| Natalie Wellington, 44, Walsingham Street, Walsall, jailed for 16 years with a further year on licence, given an indefinite restraining order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | |
| Tracy Baker, 41, Park Avenue, Walsall, jailed for 15 years with a further year on licence and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | |
| Kirsty Webb, 36, Bloxwich Road, Walsall, jailed for 10 years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years | |
| Phillip Wellington, 50, Walsingham Street, Walsall, jailed for eight years with a further year on licence, given an indefinite restraining order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | |
| Ann Clare, 43, Saw Mill Close, Walsall, jailed for eight years with a further three on licence and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years | |
| Pamela Howells, 58, Saw Mill Close, Walsall, jailed for seven years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years | |
| Lee Webb, 40, Whitmore Street, Palfrey, Walsall, jailed for six years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years | |
| David Evans, 72, Adshed Road, Redcar, Cleveland, jailed for three-and-a-half years and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | |
| Jason Evans, 25, Walsingham Street, Walsall, jailed for two years and six months and given a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years | |
| Luke Baker, 22, Park Avenue, Walsall, jailed for two years and four months, given an indefinite restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years | |
| Stephen Webb, 65, given an absolute discharge due to health conditions and told he must notify as a sex offender for five years | |
| Dean Webb, 35, received a two year supervision order, must notify as a sex offender for five years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 40 years | |
| Jane Evans, 71, Tantarra Street, Walsall, given a two year supervision order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | |
| Ryan Evans, 23, given a community order for three years with supervision and sex offender work, a tagged curfew for 28 days and a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years | |
| Natasha Webb, 37, to be sentenced at a future date | |
| Matthew Evans, 32, Howard Road, Bilston, to be sentenced at a future date | |
| John Griffiths, 66, Abbotts Street, Bloxwich, to be sentenced at a future date | |
| Violet Griffiths, 66, Abbotts Street, Bloxwich, to be sentenced at a future date | |
| Tina Jones, 62, of Springfields, Rushall, was found not guilty by the court. | |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Walsall | Walsall |
| West Midlands Police | West Midlands Police |
| Wolverhampton | Wolverhampton |