Paedophile ring in Cornwall 'abused at least 30 girls'

PAEDOPHILE RING IN CORNWALL 'ABUSED AT LEAST 30 GIRLS'

A third man involved in a paedophile ring which police say abused dozens of girls has been convicted of sex crimes.

James Machin was found guilty at Truro Crown Court of 10 sex offences relating to girls under 13.

Two others were convicted of sex abuse charges in 2008.

Police described the abuse by the men in the Camborne area, found in a three-year investigation, as "horrific".

One victim was five years old.

Inquiries began in December 2007 after a victim's parent raised concerns.

He also tried to erase the hard drives of two laptops which contained child pornography.

Another man, Alan Wills, also abused the same two girls.

No link was established between Wills and the others, the court heard, but the pair of victims were abused by all four men.

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

The inquiry, named Operation Lakeland, was one of the largest and most complex sex abuse investigations it had ever dealt with.

The chief investigating officer, Det Insp Simon Snell, said detectives had spoken to 30 victims and that there were concerns there could be more.

Speaking after the Machin case, he added: "They are despicable, horrible, nasty individuals who preyed on vulnerable young children.

I don't think they will ever get over this absolutely appalling abuse by the men involved." Reporting restrictions which had been in place have now been lifted.