Gang jailed for rape of two girls

Six youths were ordered to be held in custody yesterday after being convicted of ambushing and gang-raping two 15-year-old girls.

Judge Gerald Gordon asked for pre-sentence reports on the youths because of their ages, but told the Old Bailey that bail would be "wholly inappropriate in the light of the material I have heard in court".

One of the gang's victims was taken to the basement of a block of flats where 14 teenage boys - some still at large - queued up to rape her. Her friend was kept on the first floor where a smaller number of boys raped or molested her, said Michael Worsley QC, prosecuting.

The gang leader raped the first girl twice and then went on to try to rape the other. "From time to time, he would also appear where one of the others was raping a girl and would usher in the next boy. He was right at the forefront in this grave series of rapes," Mr Worsley told the court.

Nine alleged members of the rape gang - five aged 16 and four aged 15 - were later arrested. The others have not yet been caught. The nine had variously denied rape and attempted rape in Brixton, south London, on 28 October, 1994. Two were acquitted of the charges last week and a third was cleared yesterday.

Detective Inspector James Webster, who led the investigation, said the gang-rape involved 15 youths and the girls may have been violated up to 24 times. After the trial, he said: "To these boys this event appeared no more unusual than playing football or watching television."

Police had to take special security measures to protect the girls after one was threatened she would be shot if she gave evidence at the trial. "They have had to face real fear, threats and continued pressure for over a year," said Constable Alison Pike, who helped to counsel the girls. "Their lives have been crippled."