Paedophile ring smashed

An evil gang at the centre of a ”despicable” paedophile ring were today convicted of carrying out sexual abuse on 30 young girls – some as young as five.

James Machin and Alan Wills

Vile James Machin, John Barrett, John Wrey and Alan Wills conspired to find dozens of vulnerable girls and subjected them to ”horrific” abuse.

The sexual predators abused their victims and pass them on to each other to do the same.

They communicated by leaving messages for each other in public toilets and sometimes forced their victims to sniff drugs during their ordeals.

Truro Crown Court heard police launched a major investigation into the paedophile ring in December 2007 after a victim’s parent raised concerns.

Machin, 54, from Falmouth, Cornwall, had denied committing 10 sex offences relating to girls under 13, but was convicted today and is awaiting sentence.

Barrett, 49, from the Camborne, Cornwall, and Wrey, 55, from nearby Hayle, were jailed in 2008 for for 14-and-a-half years and five-and-a-years respectively.

John Barrett and John Wrey

Wills, 46, also from Camborne, was jailed for 16 years earlier this month for abusing a total of seven victims.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the inquiry was one of the largest and most complex sex abuse investigations it had ever dealt with.

Chief investigating officer Det Insp Simon Snell said detectives had spoken to 30 victims and there were real concerns there could be more.

Speaking after the Machin case, Det Insp Snell added: ”They are despicable, horrible, nasty individuals who preyed on vulnerable young children.

”My heart goes out to those children. I don’t think they will ever get over this absolutely appalling abuse by the men involved.”