Paedophile jailed over rape of girls

A "deviant" paedophile gang member has been jailed for life over the rape of two young girls during a 12-year catalogue of abuse.

Morris Petch, 50, will spend a minimum of 12 years behind bars for the attacks on the youngsters in Edinburgh which Lord Malcolm at the High Court described as "grave and disgraceful".

Said by the judge to be a "serious risk to the public", Petch, of Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh, was a friend of William King who had orchestrated the abuse when both girls were aged under ten.

Petch was convicted earlier this year of raping both girls after a three-day trial. He appeared at the Edinburgh court for sentencing after being assessed by a forensic psychologist.

One of the girls, Dana Fowley, now 26, waived her right to anonymity and on June 22 saw her mother, Caroline Dunsmore, 43, jailed for a minimum of 12 years for her role in the abuse. King, who had been married to Dunsmore, died in 1995.

Another man, John O'Flaherty, 50, was sentenced to 13 years for his part. Of Ferry Road, Edinburgh, he was a friend of King and admitted raping the girl on at least 12 occasions.

Dunsmore, of Newhaven, Edinburgh, had previously pleaded guilty to several rape charges and to abusing the older girl between 1987 and 1995 when she was aged between six and 15, while acting with her ex-husband who was almost 20 years her senior.

Sentencing Petch, Lord Malcolm told him: "You have been convicted of grave and disgraceful crimes towards young and vulnerable children.

"It is plain from the assessment carried out on you that you have no remorse for them nor for the damage that you have caused to your victims."

Lord Malcolm said Petch was in denial about his conduct and his inability to control his "deviant behaviour".

He continued: "It is clear from the material now available to the courts that you are a serious risk to the public. Nothing has been said on your behalf, no doubt because there is nothing that can be said."

Outside court, Ms Fowley said: "I'm pleased that this particular court case has finally concluded. I am pleased with the sentence the judge has given."

She said she believed the sentence reflected the crimes Petch committed against her when she was a child. Ms Fowley ended with a plea to be given "time and space to recover from the ordeal of the court proceedings".

Police recently revealed they had identified three more men aged between 40 and 65 who they believe were also involved in the abuse. Another three men and a woman died before any charges could be brought against them.

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