Four ‘monster’ paedophiles who raped children over five decades are caged for total of 63 years

FOUR paedophiles who abused children over five decades have been labelled "monsters of the deepest, darkest depths" as they were jailed for a combined total of 63 years.

Joseph Foster, 74, Logan Morris, 71, Martin Belgium, 55, and Stephen Amos, 62 were found guilty of 27 offences against nine victims, having targeted seven girls and two boys from the late 1970s to 2012.

Judge Julian Lambert sentenced the predators to a total of 63 years in jail, saying: ";The sum of depravity in which you wallowed and the extent of the damage which you did is utterly staggering.

"You generated a choking fog of misery which may never lift.

"Only time and compassion may make it thinner and hopefully memories may fade; there is no assurance they will.

"You are truly monsters in the deepest, darkest depths of corruption."

His damning comments come at the end of a six week trial at the Bristol Crown Court, with the court hearing the four friends had groomed nine children, some as young as five, in Knowle, Bristol.

The impact on the victims was revealed in court with one of the children saying she had thought the abuse was normal.

While some said they went along with the abuse in exchange for "fags, sweets and money", one girl said: "It wasn't something that was lovely and it wasn't something that you wanted to do but it was just one of those kind of things that happened."

Another said the abuse had been accepted, saying: "It was a public thing so it must have been acceptable to everybody. I just assumed everybody knew - the way it was done, it was so public."

The court heard that the abuse, which was out in the open, went often unreported.

When it was reported it was dismissed, ignored or not pursued by authorities such as police and social services.

One victim said her claims had been ignored during a police interview in 1986.

She said she mother, who was with her at the time of the police interview, moved her chair away and said: "I can't believe you, you dirty slag."

The impact statements written by the victims, who cannot be identified, were read out to the court by Jennifer Tallentire, prosecuting.

One wrote: "The abuse planted a seed in me that paved the way for self-destruction.

"I've felt lost most of my life. It made me trust the wrong people. It made me lack self-esteem. I felt ashamed. I felt what happened to me as a child was my fault."

Another wrote: "It's like a nightmare I never wake up from. I've got their nasty paw prints over me."

Many of the victims were in court to see their abusers jailed, along with eight members of the jury who convicted them.

David Scutt, prosecuting, told the jury: "At first sight the scale and subject matter of this case must seem rather daunting.

"Ultimately this squalid case is about four men sexually abusing boys and girls.

"It became a way of life. They abused children together. They abused them apart.

"They got away with it for many years."

Foster, of Southmead, Bristol, was found guilty of two rapes, two indecent assaults, one attempted rape and three counts of indecency with a child.

The pensioner was jailed for 18 years and will serve a further four years on licence.

Morris, formerly of Hartcliffe, Bristol, was found guilty of six indecent assaults and three attempted rapes and was locked up for 15 years.

Belgium, of Easton, Bristol, was jailed for 12 years after after being convicted of two indecent assaults and two attempted rapes.

Amos, of Taunton, Somerset, was convicted of four rapes, one indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child.

He was jailed for 18 years and will serve a further four years on licence.

The sum of depravity in which you wallowed and the extent of the damage which you did is utterly staggering... You are truly monsters in the deepest, darkest depths of corruption.

Judge Julian Lambert

After the hearing on Thursday, Detective Constable Julie Bryan-Young of Avon and Somerset Constabulary paid tribute to the bravery of the victims.

She said the predators who abused them "gave no thought to the long-term pain and torment" they were inflicting and had abused their position of trust with the victims for their own sexual gratification.

She said: "They have displayed the utmost bravery and courage throughout our investigation and the proceeding trial.

"These men have refused to take any responsibility for these truly despicable crimes, forcing some of their victims to relive their ordeal by giving evidence at the trial.

"The crimes committed by these men are abhorrent and I have no doubt will have a lasting effect on all the victims and their families.

A NSPCC spokesman for South West England said: "The victims were extremely brave in speaking out.

"As a result these men have finally been punished for their hugely damaging actions."

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