Children forced into sexual acts with each other and animals in Birmingham

A family court in Coventry has ruled that children were forced into sexual activities at a hotel in Birmingham. Children were "made to perform sexual activities" with each other and animals, the court said.

Justice Hilary Watson gave the written ruling after analysing evidence provided by child welfare organisations that had urged the judge to investigate allegations made by a number of children. She said that children between eight and 14 years of age had made allegations against a man they knew.

"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," she said, the Conventry Telegraph reported.

The judge revealed that the incident was watched by other people and was also recorded on camera. She said that the children spoke of sexual activity with animals.

"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," Watson said.

"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," she added. "It is highly probable that the children were made to perform sexual acts on animals."

The judge accused the man of "orchestrating" sexual activity between children. However, the man told the court that the children were lying, she 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," Watson said, adding that the man threatened the children with violence. He did not resort to any violence because "children were compliant to his requests through fear".

It is not clear in the ruling if anyone has been charged with the offence of child abuse but the judge's findings will be used in ongoing proceedings in the case, the report said.