Children were forced to have sex with pets in Coventry, judge rules

The judge made a series of findings of facts after analysing evidence at a family court hearing

Judge Hilary Watson concluded that the local authority with responsibility for the children was Coventry City Council (Rex)

Children were made to perform “sexual activities” with each other – and animals – at a hotel, a family court judge has concluded.

Social workers with responsibility for child welfare in Coventry had asked Judge Hilary Watson to investigate a series of allegations made by a number of children.

The judge made a series of findings of facts after analysing evidence at a family court hearing. She said four children aged between eight and 14 were at the centre of her inquiries, and allegations had been made about a man they knew.

No one was identified in a written ruling.

Judge Watson said the local authority with responsibility for the children was Coventry City Council. She said police were involved but she did not reveal whether anyone has been charged with any offence.

The children involved spoke of travelling to Birmingham on a bus and indicated that the hotel was in the city. They also indicated that activities had been recorded on video.

Judge Watson said some of the “suggestions” might seem “fantastical”, but concluded they were probably a “grim reality”.

She added: “In my judgment, the children are telling the truth when they describe being taken ... to a hotel where they had wine and tablets and were made to perform sexual acts watched by other people.

“It is suggested that the accounts are not to be believed because the children report sexual activity with a dog and other animals. A rabbit was described as being frightened ... and running off.

“Such suggestions might seem fantastical but become a grim reality when seen in the context of my findings that the children have been made to perform sexual activities with each other for the sexual gratification of (the man), for the video camera, and for other people.”

The judge added: “It is highly probable that the children were made to perform sexual acts on animals.”

Judge Watson said the man at the centre of the case had denied all allegations.

“He told the court the children are not telling the truth,” he said. “He is unable to offer any explanation for why the children should lie and can only guess that they have observed sexual activity of this sort in films.”

She said the man had denied harming children or threatening them.

But Judge Watson made a series of findings against him and said he had “orchestrated” sexual activity between children. “[He] created a climate of fear and the children were compliant to his requests through fear,” the judge concluded.

“He threatened them with violence which was not used because the threat was enough.”

PA