gosport paedophile ring Rapist

August 2000 Child abuse ring exposed TWO DETECTIVES have been praised for cracking one of Hampshire’s biggest child abuse rings.

Four men, whose depravity shocked hardened police officers, are behind bars or serving community service orders.

The incidents took place in Gosport.

The results of the court cases are as follows: Ernest Bohea, 65, of Lawn Close, Gosport, received a nine- year prison stint for rape and attempted rape.

Peter Sean Hicks, 30, of Dukes Road, Gosport, received 12 months jail after being found guilty of two charges of indecent assault.

He will be on the sex offenders’ register for ten years.

Bryan James Hicks, 24, of Dukes Road, admitted six char-ges of indecent assault of girls under the age of 16.

He received a three-year probation order.

Quarterly reports on him are also being sent to the trial judge.

Gary John Lucas, 41, of Beryton Road, Gosport, was found guilty of two charges of rape and two of indecent assault.

He was sent to jail for a total of 11 years.

A jury found him not guilty of two counts of rape and one of indecent assault.

The judge ruled he should be on the sex offenders’ register for an indefinite period.

Peter Sydney Hicks, 60, of Dukes Road, was convicted of two charges of cruelty to a child.

He was found not guilty of ten charges of indecent assault.

He will be sentenced in three weeks.

In a separate case, two counts of cruelty to children were quashed and a not guilty verdict returned on two other charges.

James Thornhill, 65, of Crossways, Gosport, was found not guilty on the direction of the judge of ten counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency with a child under the age of 16.

A not guilty verdict was re-turned on a charge of adult rape.

Phyllis Joan Hicks, 57, of Dukes Road, was charged with 18 counts of the willful neglect of a child.

She died after her case was adjourned because of ill health.