The trial at the High Court in Glasgow is believed to have been the largest prosecution of a child sex abuse ring in Scotland.
By Democrat reporter
STV News is reporting that seven people sexually abused and raped children as part of a child sex abuse ring in a drugs den in Glasgow.
Iain Owens, 45, Elaine Lannery, 39, Lesley Williams, 41, Paul Brannan, 41, Barry Watson, 47, Scott Forbes, 50, and John Clark, 46, were found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of rape and sexual assault on Tuesday.
The charges against them included making children perform sex acts on each other, serious sexual assault, rape and neglect.
An eighth accused, Marianne Gallagher, was found guilty of assault.
‘Harrowing trial’ with the ‘most distressing evidence’
Owens, Lannery, Brannan, Williams and Clark were found guilty of attempting to murder a baby girl, who was put in a microwave, forced to eat dog food and hung by her clothes from a nail, as well as being chased by people wearing a devil mask on occasions between December 2015 and June 2019.
Two of the accused were found guilty of neglect – willfully exposing children to harm by failing to give them clean clothing, adequate food or sanitary living conditions, and not treating chronic head lice infestations.
Four children suffered at the hands of the group. Three made allegations including gang rape and sexual abuse committed in a Glasgow drugs den.
Those convicted are due to be sentenced on January 4.
The trial is believed to have been the largest prosecution of a child sex abuse ring in Scotland.
Addressing those in the dock, judge Lord Beckett said: “None of you can now enjoy the presumption of innocence.
“You have all been found guilty of at least one serious charge.”
Judge Lord Beckett, pictured left, excused the jurors from ever serving on a jury again and thanked them for serving on such a long, “harrowing trial” and listening to the “most distressing of evidence”.
Jurors are also being offered counselling if they wish.
Three of the accused were acquitted of all charges – Mark Carr, 49, Richard Gachagan, 45 and Leona Laing, 50.
Detective superintendent Nicola Kilbane said: “This has been a horrific ordeal for the young victims who were subjected to years of unimaginable abuse. Our thoughts are with them today and I hope this outcome can help them in moving forward.
