Abuse victim's bravery hailed as perverts are put away

The treatment of the teenage boy led to the jailing of nine men, including two men from the Black Country – Alan Priest from Halesowen and Ian Prestleton from Cradley Heath.

A three-month trial heard how the victim, who complained to West Midlands Police in 2009 and 2010, was stripped, beaten and raped.

The teenager, who cannot be identified, had absconded from a care home and first spoke to police in 2009.

During a later inquiry in 2012, the victim was able to direct police to the offenders.

Sitting at Warwick Crown Court, Judge Sylvia de Bertadano said the teenager had been let down by the authorities.

A spokesman for the NSPCC said: "These men exploited a vulnerable boy for their own sexual gratification and subjected him to sickening abuse at a time when he needed help and support.

"We hope the case sends out a message that operations like this can be dismantled, no matter how powerful abusers think they are.

"Child sexual exploitation often exists in the shadows, with abusers making their victims feel like there is no escape.

"But in this case, the victim's bravery in speaking out was crucial in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

"It is also vital that anyone concerned about a child comes forward, as it could help save them from further abuse."

Priest, 63, of Mucklow Hill, was jailed for life with a minimum term of seven years after being convicted of two rapes and one of sexual activity with a child.

Prestleton, 54, of High Haden Road, received a three-year sentence after being convicted of sexual activity with a child.

During the trial, Prosecutor Rosina Cottage QC said the victim ran away from a children's home in December 2009, when he was 14, and was missing for 11 days.

He was then found at Stephen Kelly's home and returned to care.

During that time he had been pimped by Kelly in the Kent Street area of Birmingham.

The boy was interviewed by the police at the time but it was only when the investigation was reopened that he went into full details. As a result, arrests were made.

Kelly, 40, of Elm Road, Bournville, Birmingham, was jailed for eight years for two counts of arranging or facilitating child prostitution and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child

Ashley Sherrington, 25, of Dawlish Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, was jailed for nine years for two counts of rape.

Robert Bailey, 27, of Watt Road, Erdington, got seven years for arranging or facilitating child prostitution, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, sexual activity with a child, and making indecent photographs and Michael Godbold, 57, of London, got 11 years for similar charges.

Tahir Hussain, 34, of St Josephs Road, Ward End, was jailed for seven years after being found guilty of sexual activity with a child.

Peter Joynes, 59, of Canberra Way, Highgate, Birmingham, was given a four-year term for arranging or facilitating child prostitution and sexual activity with a child.

Kevin Tudor, 55, of no fixed address, admitted sexual activity with a child and w as jailed for nine years.

Another man, Ronald Potter, 79, from Fillongley, near Coventry, got three years for abusing another boy.

Assistant Chief Constable Carl Foulkes said: "It has been a long and complex process to bring these men to trial when initially it was believed that there wasn't enough evidence.

"We have now seen justice for those subjected to horrific offences. West Midlands Police has moved on significantly in recent years and we take all reports of sexual abuse very seriously.

"I would encourage anyone who has suffered to report it to us or to an independent sexual violence advisor, who can offer guidance and support."

The sentencing of the men comes just weeks after the NSPCC revealed the number of child cruelty and neglect cases recorded by West Midlands Police has soared by 66 per cent over the course of three years.

According to the NSPCC's annual child protection review How Safe Are Our Children?, parents or carers were reported in connection with 2,147 offences in 2014/15, compared to 1,293 in 2012/13.

Across England, the total rose by 40 per cent, from 6,069 in 2012/13 to 8,506 in 2014/15.