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Four people found guilty of running Norwich paedophile ring

Four people found guilty of running Norwich paedophile ring

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'Utterly depraved' leader of Norwich child sex ring jailed for life

Marie Black. Credit: Norfolk Police.

A woman at the centre of a child abuse ring has been jailed for life.

Marie Black, 34, from Norwich, was convicted of 23 offences including rape, conspiracy to rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, at a trial earlier this year.

Sentencing her at Norwich Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Coleman told her she would serve at least 24 years in prison.

During the trial, the jury was told the five young victims - two boys and three girls - had been used as "sexual play things" over the course of 10 years.

"The case is the most harrowing it has been my misfortune to try. 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.

"They were simply passed around like toys."

– Judge Nicholas Coleman.

Two men also found guilty of sexual offences will also be sentenced this afternoon. A woman convicted of causing actual bodily harm will be sentenced at a later date.

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