Two men who raped vulnerable girls they trafficked around the country have been jailed for 28 years today.
John James Purcell and John Delaney took the girls - who were underage - from a care home and drove them to various sites where they exploited them for their own gratification, Mold crown court heard.
Purcell, 31, from Ellesmere Port, and 33-year-old Delaney, from Wrexham , were sentenced to 14 years each for their crimes today.
Their trial heard they had plied the girls with alcohol and raped them. They used them as 'a sexual resource'.
Delaney had denied knowing one of the girls was from a children's home, but according to the prosecutor at their trial on one occasion a van turned up outside the home for looked after children and a loud-hailer was used to call a girl's name to get her attention.
Prosecutor John Phillpotts told their trial that "the defendants knew how old those girls were and, indeed, seemed to be excited by their extreme youth."
In evidence, Delaney had described one of the girls as "looking about 17".
Delaney was found guilty of three sex trafficking offences, two counts of rape and a sexual assault.
Purcell was found guilty of four sex trafficking charges and two counts of rape.
Speaking after the sentencing today, North Wales Police DCI Alun Oldfield said: "I would like to thank the victims in this traumatic case for having the courage to come forward and give evidence against these men who ruthlessly exploited them.
"John Anthony Delaney and John James Purcell have rightly been given lengthy custodial sentences for the rape and trafficking of children.
"Hopefully the victims can now move on with their lives in the knowledge that these paedophiles have been brought to justice.
"This has been a lengthy and protracted investigation and I’d like to thank the Operation Lenten team for their steadfast work in bringing these criminals to justice and Flintshire Social Services for their support.
"I would also encourage anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse, no matter how long ago, to contact North Wales Police. We will deal with complaints in a supportive, sensitive and appropriate manner."
Sandra Subacchi, of the Crown Prosecution Service, added: "These men preyed on the vulnerability of these teenage girls, sometimes seeking them out and encouraging them to leave their care home to go with them.
"They deliberately manipulated the girls and used alcohol as a way of breaking their will, sometimes getting them so drunk that they were not able to stop the men from doing as they wished.
"The defendants treated these girls as property rather than people and used them as objects to fulfil their sexual desires.
"We hope the conclusion of the case will help the women to move forward with their lives."
