A woman who used drugs and alcohol to lure "weak and vulnerable" girls into a life of prostitution has been found guilty of running a child sex ring.
Amanda Spencer, from Sheffield, was aged 16 when she began befriending her victims - some as young as 13 - later forcing them to have sex for cash.
She used the money to fund her own drug and alcohol addictions.
Spencer, now 23, was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court of 14 counts relating to child prostitution.
She was found not guilty of one count of arranging or facilitating a child sex offence.
During a trial lasting more than two months the jury heard how Spencer deliberately targeted vulnerable girls in Sheffield.
Prosecutor Michelle Colborne QC said Spencer gave the girls alcohol and drugs and "when [they were] weak, introduced them to a life of prostitution".
"Amanda Spencer was a fraud, say the prosecution," she said.
"She hung around the town centre identifying and befriending vulnerable children."
"She made them feel loved, she gave them a shoulder to cry on, a friend who purported to understand whatever sadness they were experiencing in their lives and in turn lured them into a life of abuse, which she exploited and profited from."
Ms Colborne told jurors Spencer groomed the girls for abuse.
She said: "She told them how to dress more provocatively, to lie about their age and to close their minds to the reality of the sexual experiences, concentrating instead on the drugs.
"Those who had the temerity to refuse to do as they were instructed felt her wrath, she was violent and they were very frightened of her."
Between 2006 and 2011 Spencer befriended and exploited the girls, forcing them to have sex with men, both at her own flat and at other homes across South Yorkshire.
One girl told the court she was forced into prostitution just days after meeting Spencer in 2008.
Judge Michael Murphy QC said the girl had told police: "She [Spencer] used to take me to people's houses and sell me for money.
"If I did not do it she would beat me up and if I did she would get money and she would just go and get drugs. She used to do that every day and I used to fall for it because I used to take drugs as well."
The court heard that on one occasion the girl was locked in a room and forced to have sex with seven men in one night. When she refused Spencer punched her, giving her a black eye.
She estimated she was abused by 16 different men on up to 50 occasions over a period of about two years.
Spencer denied the charges, claiming her victims had either made up their accounts or that she had never met them.
The jury is considering a further 23 counts also relating to child sex offences.
In addition, Spencer was found guilty of 12 counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of child prostitution.
She was also convicted of two counts of causing or inciting child prostitution.
One man, who cannot be named, has been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault.
It's hard to see a young woman throw her life away like this, but even harder to see how she threw so many other young lives away without any indication of remorse. I hope they put this monster away for a long time. Meanwhile, let's pray for her victims to get the help they need and get their lives in order.
Amanda Spencer, from Sheffield, was aged 16 when she began befriending her victims - some as young as 13 - later forcing them to have sex for cash.
She used the money to fund her own drug and alcohol addictions.
Spencer, now 23, was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court of 14 counts relating to child prostitution.
She was found not guilty of one count of arranging or facilitating a child sex offence.
 |
| Amanda Spencer |
Prosecutor Michelle Colborne QC said Spencer gave the girls alcohol and drugs and "when [they were] weak, introduced them to a life of prostitution".
"Amanda Spencer was a fraud, say the prosecution," she said.
"She hung around the town centre identifying and befriending vulnerable children."
"She made them feel loved, she gave them a shoulder to cry on, a friend who purported to understand whatever sadness they were experiencing in their lives and in turn lured them into a life of abuse, which she exploited and profited from."
Ms Colborne told jurors Spencer groomed the girls for abuse.
She said: "She told them how to dress more provocatively, to lie about their age and to close their minds to the reality of the sexual experiences, concentrating instead on the drugs.
"Those who had the temerity to refuse to do as they were instructed felt her wrath, she was violent and they were very frightened of her."
Between 2006 and 2011 Spencer befriended and exploited the girls, forcing them to have sex with men, both at her own flat and at other homes across South Yorkshire.
One girl told the court she was forced into prostitution just days after meeting Spencer in 2008.
Judge Michael Murphy QC said the girl had told police: "She [Spencer] used to take me to people's houses and sell me for money.
"If I did not do it she would beat me up and if I did she would get money and she would just go and get drugs. She used to do that every day and I used to fall for it because I used to take drugs as well."
The court heard that on one occasion the girl was locked in a room and forced to have sex with seven men in one night. When she refused Spencer punched her, giving her a black eye.
She estimated she was abused by 16 different men on up to 50 occasions over a period of about two years.
 |
| The Law Courts, Sheffield |
The jury is considering a further 23 counts also relating to child sex offences.
In addition, Spencer was found guilty of 12 counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of child prostitution.
She was also convicted of two counts of causing or inciting child prostitution.
One man, who cannot be named, has been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault.
It's hard to see a young woman throw her life away like this, but even harder to see how she threw so many other young lives away without any indication of remorse. I hope they put this monster away for a long time. Meanwhile, let's pray for her victims to get the help they need and get their lives in order.
No comments:
Post a Comment