Marie Black, the central figure in a Norwich paedophile ring that auctioned children at sexual gatherings, convicted of 23 crimes, including rape.
A woman, Marie Black, at the core of a “utterly depraved” sexual abuse ring that exploited children as sexual objects has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Marie Black, 34, from Norwich, was found guilty of 23 charges, including rape, conspiracy to commit rape, and inciting a minor to participate in sexual conduct, following a trial earlier this year. The allegations pertain to five young children, comprising two boys and three girls, over a decade-long duration. It involved “raffling” youngsters and taking them to sexual parties for exploitation by others.
At Norwich Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Coleman sentenced Marie Black to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 12 years before eligibility for release [12 YEARS, WHAT A JOKE!]
Marie Black sobbed uncontrollably as he described her as the “constant factor” in the crimes. “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,” he said. “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.”
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.
Michael Rogers and Jason Adams were both sentenced to 24 years. The men were made subject to sexual harm prevention orders. Seven others stood trial but were cleared of all alleged sex offences.
The trial heard that Marie Black was instrumental in abuse against the children in and around Norwich and London.
The trio are said to have hidden behind a “veneer of respectability” as they invited other adults to parties where the children were abused and played card games to decide who would abuse which child.
Coleman said: “The offences included adults conspiring to rape children at so-called sex parties. You used them for you own, and for others’, sexual gratification. It amounts to child sexual abuse of the most serious kind.”
Co-defendant Carol Stadler, 59, from Norwich, was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm. Michael Rogers was found guilty of 14 counts including cruelty and rape.
There was evidence the children were taken to other parts of the country where they were “raffled” for abuse by others, he said.
Sarah Elliott QC, mitigating for Marie Black, said her client had been the victim of very serious domestic violence at the hands of Jason Adams. “He was, and is, a very manipulative man,” she said. Elliott told the court that evidence was found on Rogers’ telephone suggesting he was a paedophile who exploited Black.
Elliott added that Marie Black did not have the “intelligence or the wit” to be part of a “clever Machiavellian scheme” to cover up the abuse
“Marie Black was clearly a vulnerable, corrupted woman,” Elliott said. “The impetus for abusing the children comes from Jason Adams and Michael Rogers. “She was vilified throughout the trial and was blamed by everybody to exculpate themselves.”
However, barristers representing Jason Adams and Michael Rogers rejected the notion that they had manipulated her. Isabella Forshall QC, for Jason Adams, said he had no previous convictions for sexual offences.
“Although Marie Black seeks to transfer the full load of blame onto Mr Adams, one of the counts reflects her as the only participant, so we don’t accept it is entirely his fault. She is the common denominator between all the offences,” she said.
Ann Cotcher QC said Michael Rogers was a “naive” man who had sought to help Marie Black.
“He still maintains his denial of any wrongdoing,” she said. “Whatever he did do, he was not the instigator of sexual and physical abuse. Marie Black had abused the children before he was ever on the scene.”
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.
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 thanks to a pathetic broken UK Justice System.
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