Police praise bravery of victims after Walsall child sex abuse convictions
It's the biggest child sex abuse case of its kind investigated by West Midlands Police.
West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have praised the "bravery" of victims in coming forward, as part of an investigation into child sex abuse in Walsall.
A total of 21 people have been found guilty of their roles in one of the biggest cases to be investigated by the region's force.
Seven victims, aged up to 12 years old, were abused over almost a decade in the Walsall and Wolverhampton areas.
The offences first came to light after one of the victims was admitted to hospital with a suspicious injury, with doctors making a safeguarding referral, West Midlands Police said.
After several trials, the last of which concluded this month, 13 people have now been jailed with four others due to be sentenced.
Jail terms imposed ranged from 28 months to life, while four of those convicted received non-custodial terms.
Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Drover, of West Midlands Police, said a large team of officers investigated over more than half a decade, uncovering what he called "systematic abuse that has to be some of the most shocking I have seen in my career".
"Our investigation turned into one of the biggest investigations in the West Midlands into child sexual abuse," he added.
Mr Drover said: "Seventy interviews were conducted and we heard high numbers of disclosures made by the children involved.
"We had specialist support from the National Crime Agency detectives, specialists in disclosure and exhibits, plus all the support from colleagues at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), local authority social care, children's mental health services and health services."
He added that a report into what had taken place and understanding how it happened as well as any "lessons to be learned" was being co-ordinated by Walsall Safeguarding Children's Board, and was expected to be published in due course.
Mr Drover praised the victims, some of whom are now adults, for coming forward, allowing the perpetrators to be brought to justice, saying they had suffered "shocking and abhorrent" abuse.
"They have been through a significant amount of trauma," he said, adding "it has had a significant and ongoing impact on their physical and mental wellbeing".
"To get the confidence to come forward and talk to care professionals, to police is huge," he said.
"I am genuinely thankful, and also to the juries involved in this.
"The safeguarding of children is at the forefront of police, of health (workers), of school teachers, this to me is a perfect example of how we work together to bring a significant case to the stage where... (offenders) will be found guilty of significant offences and receive up to life terms in prison.
"This is an ask from me, for those subject to sexual harm to have the confidence to come forward, talk to teachers, nurses and doctors, police officers, tell us what is going on.
"We spent several years on this investigation, and we continued to run this until we got to the conclusion we have seen.
"So I am hoping this gives some confidence (to those victims) out there to come forward to talk to professionals."
Joanne Jakymec, CPS chief crown prosecutor, said: "The offenders in this case perpetrated the most appalling catalogue of sexual abuse of the utmost gravity, causing the victims physical harm and extreme psychological harm.
"With the exception of one of the offenders who admitted what they had done, none of the rest have shown the slightest remorse."
She praised the "bravery" of victims and witnesses, adding "without their support it would not have been possible for the prosecution team to convict this large network of child abusers".