Collier Row man part of paedophile ring that abused children for more than a decade
The Marie Black court case. Michael Rogers, 53. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2015
A Collier Row man has been found guilty of being part of a paedophile ring that subjected children to sexual and physical abuse over more than a decade.
Ten people, six of them women and four men, were on trial accused of the abuse of five children at Norwich Crown Court. Six were cleared of all charges against them.
The ring is said to have centred around Marie Black, 34, from Atkinson Close, Norwich.
Black was found guilty of 23 offences including rape, conspiracy to rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Michael Rogers, 53, from Defoe Way, Collier Row, was found guilty of 14 counts including cruelty, rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
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Jason Adams, 43, from Aspland Road, Norwich, was found guilty of 13 similar counts.
The abuse, which is said to have happened in and around Norwich and London, included forcing the children to have sex with one another.
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Carol Stadler, 59, from Atkinson Close, Norwich, was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm but cleared of nine other charges, including serious sexual assaults.
On some occasions, the adults threw parties and played card games to decide who would abuse which child, prosecutor, Angela Rafferty QC told the court.
In interviews the victims described how they were abused in front of one another and other adults. Some of the abuse involved children’s toys, including Barbie dolls.
They said the abuse became so routine that the victims came to accept it as normal.
Mrs Rafferty added: “Many of the defendants have become good at appearing normal and respectable.
“This is what you would have to do in order to be child abusers to the extent alleged here.
Judge Nicholas Coleman remanded Black, Rogers and Adams in custody until sentencing on September 28, saying: “These are very serious matters.”
Stadler was released on bail.
The remaining defendants – Anthony Stadler, 63, from Church Close in Norwich, Nicola Collins, 36, and Andrew Collins, 52, both of Lucas Court in Dussindale, Judith Fuller, 31, of Gertrude Road, Norwich, Denise Barnes, 43, of Long Row, in Norwich and Kathleen Adams, 85, of Catton Court, in Norwich – were cleared of all counts
All of the defendants denied abusing the children, saying it simply did not happen.
During the trial it emerged that police had launched an investigation in to the conduct of Norfolk County Council social workers involved in the case.
The court heard that the trial had originally been due to start last year only to be delayed when prosecutors raised concerns over changes made by social workers to statements taken from the children.
This resulted in Norfolk Police launching an investigation into alleged misconduct.
