Seven members of a Glasgow-based child abuse ring received orders for lifelong restriction Monday for operating what prosecutors called a “monstrous” sex abuse operation from a drug den between 2012 and 2019.
The High Court in Glasgow imposed the sentences following a two-month trial that revealed systematic abuse of three children who were exposed to drugs, alcohol, and sexual violence. The victims referred to the location as the “beastie house.”
Iain Owens received a minimum 20-year term, while co-defendants received sentences ranging from 8 to 17 years. The group includes Elaine Lannery, Lesley Williams, Paul Brannan, Scott Forbes, Barry Watson, and John Clark. All were placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
Lord Beckett, who presided over the case, warned the defendants they “may never be released” under Scotland’s order for lifelong restriction, a sentence typically reserved for the most serious non-murder cases.
Four of the defendants — Owens, Lannery, Williams, and Brannan — were also convicted of attempted murder for trapping children in various locations, including a microwave and cupboard. Owens, Williams, and Brannan faced additional convictions on drug charges.
Evidence revealed that money changed hands after attacks, with some perpetrators laughing during the assaults. The children endured what prosecutors termed “rape nights” at the hands of the heroin-addicted defendants.
“This court is used to hearing about some of the worst examples of human behavior but such depravity as you displayed against young children is beyond my experience,” Beckett told the defendants during sentencing.
An eighth defendant, Marianne Gallagher, 40, was convicted solely of assault and released on bail. Three others were acquitted of all charges.
Police Scotland reported processing more than 1,000 lines of inquiry during the investigation. Detective Inspector Lesley-Ann McGee expressed hope that the outcome would help the victims move forward.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service praised the victims’ courage in testifying. Katrina Parkes, Scotland’s procurator fiscal for high court sexual offenses, noted the complexity of prosecuting the case while considering the children’s trauma.
Glasgow’s Child Protection Committee has initiated a case learning review to improve child protection systems. The review aims to develop better safeguards for protecting children and young people in the future.
Defense arguments suggesting the children might have fabricated their accounts were dismissed by prosecutors, who said it would be “off the scale devious” to invent crimes of such severity.
