BARRY WATSON AND GANG FROM GLASGOW FACE LONG WAIT FOR LIFE SENTENCES IN CHILD ABUSE CASE

In a chilling case that has shocked the city of Glasgow, seven individuals convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of children are now facing a prolonged period before they learn whether they will be sentenced to life imprisonment. The defendants, consisting of five men and two women, were found guilty in a landmark trial held in November, which is believed to be the largest prosecution of a child abuse ring in Scottish history.

Judge Lord Beckett, presiding over the case, previously issued a stern warning about the severity of the punishments that could be handed down, describing the crimes as involving "extraordinary depravity". He has now ordered comprehensive risk assessments to be conducted on each of the convicted individuals prior to sentencing, a process that is expected to take at least three months. The case has been officially adjourned until the 5th of April, with the possibility of further delays as the assessments are completed and reports are prepared for sentencing.

All seven defendants were convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse, including rape. Among them, Owens, Lannery, Brannan, and Williams were also found guilty of attempting to murder a child by pushing her into a microwave and subsequently trapping her in various other locations. These acts of violence and abuse highlight the extreme nature of the crimes committed.

Additionally, Marianne Gallagher, another woman involved in the case, was convicted of assaulting a young girl. Her sentence has been deferred for a year due to good behaviour, and she has been released on bail pending sentencing. Meanwhile, three other individuals—Mark Carr, aged 50, Richard Gachagan, aged 45, and Leona Laing, aged 51—were acquitted by the jury and will not face charges related to this case.

The trial, held at the High Court in Glasgow, revealed disturbing details about the abuse inflicted on two girls and a boy, all under the age of 13 at the time of the incidents. The abuse spanned from 2012 to 2019 and involved repeated violent and sexual assaults. The court heard that members of the group used Class A drugs openly in front of the children, often forcing them to consume alcohol and drugs as part of their exploitation.

One particularly harrowing account involved a girl who was raped by members of the gang while she was still young enough to wear a nappy. She described her experience as being confined in a place she called the "dark and scary beastie house," where she was locked in a cupboard filled with spiders and other frightening objects. The case also detailed the brutal beatings and sexual violence inflicted upon an older boy and girl, illustrating the extent of the cruelty involved in this case.