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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Three jailed for abusing children | Three jailed for abusing children |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Three people who abused two children during a six-hour orgy arranged over the internet have been jailed. | Three people who abused two children during a six-hour orgy arranged over the internet have been jailed. |
| The incident took place at a house in Fleet, Hampshire, in June 2005. | The incident took place at a house in Fleet, Hampshire, in June 2005. |
| Steven Horton, 44, from Kemsley in Kent, was given an indeterminate jail sentence but was told he would serve at least five-and-a-half years. | Steven Horton, 44, from Kemsley in Kent, was given an indeterminate jail sentence but was told he would serve at least five-and-a-half years. |
| Archibald Wood, 60, from Tavistock, Devon, was jailed for seven years, and Monica McCanch, 55, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, was handed a six-year term. | Archibald Wood, 60, from Tavistock, Devon, was jailed for seven years, and Monica McCanch, 55, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, was handed a six-year term. |
| They had previously pleaded guilty to a total of 42 sex offences, with Wood asking for another 17 offences to be taken into consideration. | They had previously pleaded guilty to a total of 42 sex offences, with Wood asking for another 17 offences to be taken into consideration. |
| Kent Police, the force which led the investigation, said Horton had abused the children on his own on separate occasions. | Kent Police, the force which led the investigation, said Horton had abused the children on his own on separate occasions. |
| They indulged themselves in their sexual perversions Judge Jeremy Carey | They indulged themselves in their sexual perversions Judge Jeremy Carey |
| After communicating with Wood over the internet, he took the 13-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl to the private property in Fleet. | After communicating with Wood over the internet, he took the 13-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl to the private property in Fleet. |
| Wood and McCanch met at the Fleet service area on the M3 before making their way to the house. | Wood and McCanch met at the Fleet service area on the M3 before making their way to the house. |
| Judge Jeremy Carey told the three paedophiles they then "indulged themselves in their sexual perversions". | Judge Jeremy Carey told the three paedophiles they then "indulged themselves in their sexual perversions". |
| He addressed each of them individually as he passed sentence at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday. | He addressed each of them individually as he passed sentence at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday. |
| Judge Carey said he was "entirely satisfied that Horton is at the centre of this serious criminality and in his case there are obviously aggravating features". | Judge Carey said he was "entirely satisfied that Horton is at the centre of this serious criminality and in his case there are obviously aggravating features". |
| "There was plainly a high degree of planning on his part," he added. | "There was plainly a high degree of planning on his part," he added. |
| 'Hatred and derision' | 'Hatred and derision' |
| Horton's defence lawyer Oliver Saxby said of his client: "He has gone through the process of accepting what he has done, of feeling utter horror at what he has done, an acute sense of shame and guilt." | Horton's defence lawyer Oliver Saxby said of his client: "He has gone through the process of accepting what he has done, of feeling utter horror at what he has done, an acute sense of shame and guilt." |
| The judge told Wood, an ex-Army major who was a school governor at the time of the offences, that he had "fallen from a great height". | The judge told Wood, an ex-Army major who was a school governor at the time of the offences, that he had "fallen from a great height". |
| And he added: "You have failed in every respect to live up to the high standards which you plainly held for a part of your life. | And he added: "You have failed in every respect to live up to the high standards which you plainly held for a part of your life. |
| "You now find yourself a figure of hatred and derision from those who at one stage might have respected you." | "You now find yourself a figure of hatred and derision from those who at one stage might have respected you." |
| Wood's defence lawyer Ali Rafati told the court his arrest in November last year had brought "great shame" on his family, but his wife had nonetheless pledged to support him. | Wood's defence lawyer Ali Rafati told the court his arrest in November last year had brought "great shame" on his family, but his wife had nonetheless pledged to support him. |
| Suicide notes | Suicide notes |
| The court also heard how church-going McCanch blamed her role on "traumatic experiences" she suffered in her 20s. | The court also heard how church-going McCanch blamed her role on "traumatic experiences" she suffered in her 20s. |
| Prosecutor Anthony Haycroft said she couldn't "bear to be labelled a child abuser" and had written five suicide notes. | Prosecutor Anthony Haycroft said she couldn't "bear to be labelled a child abuser" and had written five suicide notes. |
| They were found in her luggage when she was arrested at Heathrow Airport after returning voluntarily from Jamaica at the end of last year. | They were found in her luggage when she was arrested at Heathrow Airport after returning voluntarily from Jamaica at the end of last year. |
| The sentences are an acknowledgement of the seriousness of the horrific crimes Acting Det Sgt Dave Shipley | |
| Judge Carey said to her: "You have a complex history and I'm prepared to accept that you were the victim both as a child and an adult of significant abuse, both sexual and physical." | Judge Carey said to her: "You have a complex history and I'm prepared to accept that you were the victim both as a child and an adult of significant abuse, both sexual and physical." |
| But he added that other victims of abuse did not go on to do what she had done. | But he added that other victims of abuse did not go on to do what she had done. |
| Acting Det Sgt Dave Shipley, the senior investigating officer for Kent Police, said: "I hope that this brings closure for the victims. | |
| "I believe the sentences are an acknowledgement of the seriousness of the horrific crimes against them. | |
| "Despite the ordeal these children have been through, they have shown exceptional bravery in speaking with us and providing the evidence which has helped put these people in jail." |