Trio convicted of child sex abuse

Two men and a woman have been convicted of child sex abuse dating back 40 years in Hampshire's New Forest.

Michael Brooks, 66, of Lymington, was found to have committed five counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual activity with a child.

Patricia Harris, 57, of New Milton, was found guilty of attempted rape. Peter Saville, 64, of Ringwood, was found guilty of sexual activity with a child.

On Monday, Brooks was also found to have committed five counts of cruelty.

Four cleared

The three defendants were accused of abusing six victims in the New Milton area of the New Forest between 1968 and 2007.

Harris and Saville had denied the charges.

Brooks had been judged unfit to plead, but a Court of Appeal ruling meant the jury could decide on whether he committed the crimes.

Four other defendants were cleared of abuse during the trial at Southampton Crown Court.

Ian Whitlock, 66, of Cull Lane, New Milton, was found not guilty on Monday of indecent assault and sexual assault.

Maureen Brooks, 63, of Church Lane, Lymington, was found not guilty of five counts of child cruelty, and cleared of two more cruelty charges.

Earlier in the trial, on the judge's directions, Terence Shave, 65, of Bramshaw Way, New Milton, was cleared of indecent assault while Patrice Budd, 47, of Avon Road, Bournemouth, was found not guilty of indecency with a child.

Undecided verdicts

On Monday, also on the direction of the judge, Michael Brooks was found not to have incited someone to engage in sexual activity.

The jury, which has been deliberating since 28 October, failed to reach verdicts on Tuesday on charges of five counts of rape against Brooks.

They also failed to reach verdicts on charges of one count of indecent assault against Nico Sharque, 45, of Rudd Close, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and a charge of one count of indecent assault against John Wells, 58, of St James Street, Brighton.

A decision will be made by 14 November whether any further action will be taken.

Harris and Saville were remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced on 28 November.

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