Paedophile Jailed For Life For Abusing Girls

A member of a paedophile gang has been jailed for life for abusing two young girls over a 12 year period.

Morris Petch, 50, was told he would serve a minimum of 12 years behind bars for the rape of the girls in Edinburgh.

Lord Malcolm described Petch, who was convicted earlier this year, as a "serious risk to the public".

Petch was a friend of William King, who had orchestrated the abuse when both girls were under 10 years old.

Earlier this year, Caroline Dunsmore, 43, was sentenced to serve 12 years in jail for her role in the abuse of the girls, one of whom was her daughter Dana Fowley, now 26, who has waived her right to anonymity.

Another man, John O'Flaherty, 50, was sentenced to 13 years for his part.

Lord Malcolm told Petch: "You have been convicted of grave and disgraceful crimes towards young and vulnerable children.

"It is plain from the assessment carried out on you that you have no remorse for them nor for the damage that you have caused to your victims."

He continued: "It is clear from the material now available to the courts that you are a serious risk to the public. Nothing has been said on your behalf, no doubt because there is nothing that can be said."

(CD)