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Glasgow Child Sex Exploitation

Glasgow Child Sex Exploitation

Catriona Renton

BBC Scotland News

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Seven members of one of Scotland’s largest child sex abuse rings have been given life sentences, meaning they will never be released.

Three victims aged under 13 were subjected to horrific sexual abuse and violence at the Glasgow drug house, dubbed ‘Beast House’, for seven years.

Police said the children suffered “unimaginable abuse”, with crimes including rape, attempted murder and assault.

Iain Owens, 46; Elaine Lannery, 40; Lesley Williams, 43; Paul Brannan, 42; Scott Forbes, 51; Barry Watson, 48, and John Clark, 49, were jailed for between eight and 20 years and handed life-long restraint orders.

They denied the charges but were found guilty in November 2023 after a two-month trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Sentencing has so far been delayed due to delays in a risk assessment, which was ordered to help the judge, Lord Beckett, decide whether to impose a lifelong restriction order.

WARNING: This article contains details readers may find upsetting

Two girls and a boy were violently and sexually assaulted multiple times from 2012 to 2019.

The trial heard the gang would hold Rape Nights and Dance and Sex Nights in a squalid Glasgow flat which was frequented by drug users.

The girl was raped by gang members when she was still young enough to wear a diaper.

She described the apartment as “Beastie’s dark and scary house” because she was locked in a cupboard with a box full of spiders.

The girl was also locked in the oven and refrigerator and was forced to eat dog food.

The older boy and girl were also subjected to savage beatings and sexual violence.

Gang members also used Class A drugs in front of the children and caused them to consume alcohol and drugs.

Spindrift/Police Scotland Top Row, left to right: Paul Brannan, John Clark, Scott Forbes, Barry Watson. Bottom row, from left: Iain Owens, Lesley Williams, Elaine Lannery, Marianne GallagherSpindrift/Police Scotland

People found guilty: top row, from left: Paul Brannan, John Clark, Scott Forbes, Barry Watson. Bottom row, from left: Iain Owens, Lesley Williams, Elaine Lannery and Marianne Gallagher, who was convicted of assault but cleared of all other charges

The trial heard the children first came into contact with social work in Glasgow in August 2017 and were assessed as being at risk in July 2018.

But allegations of sexual violence and abuse only came to light in March 2020.

The police were notified by a man who recognized the children. One of the victims became hysterical when she mistakenly thought she was locked in a room.

The man and his wife then documented details of what the children recalled at the hands of the gang.

Jurors were also told Owens, Lannery, Williams, Watson, Clark and Forbes – known as Scott The Kameraman – all had prior convictions, but none of them involved any type of sex offense.

Owens, Lannery, Brannan and Williams were found guilty of attempted murder.

Charges related to causing children to commit hay and witchcraft were dropped during the trial.

More than 14 months after their conviction, the gang returned to court for their sentence.

Owens was imprisoned for at least 20 years, Lannery for 17 years, Brannan for 15 years and Williams for 14 years.

Clark was sentenced to 10 years, Watson to nine years and six months and Forbes to eight years.

Another woman, Marianne Gallagher, 40, was convicted of one count of aggravated assault but was cleared of all other charges.

Her sentence was initially deferred for 12 months for good behavior and returned to court on January 6 this year. She was spared further punishment and reprimanded by Lord Beckett after being told Gallagher had not offended in the past year.

What is the order for lifetime restriction?

Leading Central Committee Tommy Ross said lifetime restraining orders (OLR) were reserved for the most serious court cases that did not involve manslaughter.

Before an order is issued, the entity must complete an extensive risk assessment process, conducted by psychologists, which usually takes around 12 weeks.

The judge then establishes a minimum prison term – known as part of the sentence – that the offender must serve before he or she can apply for parole.

And, if they are granted parole, they can return to prison if they commit any new crimes or violate the terms of their release.

Mr Ross told BBC Scotland News: “Basically once you get a life restriction order you will be in prison or on parole for the rest of your natural life.”

In 2023/24, 18 OLRs were imposed in Scottish courts

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