Marie Black, 34, of Norwich, has been sentenced to life in prison for her central role in a child sex abuse ring that passed children 'like toys' and subjected them to 'gruesome' abuse. She was convicted at Norwich Crown Court of 23 charges, including rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Judge Nicholas Coleman described the case as 'the most harrowing it has been my misfortune to try,' adding that the children were subjected to 'sexual abuse of the worst kind.' Victims were abused at parties and may have been offered in raffles, with evidence suggesting children were taken to other parts of the country for abuse.
Two co-defendants, Michael Rogers, 46, from Romford, and Jason Adams, 44, from Norwich, were also convicted on multiple counts including rape and cruelty. All three denied the charges, but Black was found guilty of 23 of 26 counts. She was told she could be considered for parole only after 12 years.
Black's barrister described her as 'a vulnerable, corrupted woman,' claiming the impetus for abuse came from Adams and Rogers. However, their barristers rejected this, with Adams's counsel calling Black 'the common denominator between all the offences.' Seven others stood trial; six were cleared of all charges, while Carol Stadler, 59, was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm.
