Alan Priest

Alan Priest, 63, from Mucklow Hill, Halesowen, was convicted of two counts of rape and one count of sexual activity with a child following a three-month trial at Warwick Crown Court. The case involved the horrifying sexual abuse of a teenager who had absconded from a care home in 2009. Priest, along with his former partner Ashley Sherrington, subjected the boy to repeated rapes, contributing to the exploitation where the victim was 'sold like goods' in Birmingham's red light area.

The court heard that the boy, who had a troubled family background, was found begging in Birmingham city centre by Stephen Kelly, who then prostituted him to others, including Priest. The abuse included stripping the boy, beating him with a stick, and streaming some incidents on the internet. Judge Sylvia de Bertadano highlighted the failure of initial police investigations in 2009 and 2010, praising the victim's 'incredible courage' in making a further complaint in 2012 that led to the convictions.

• Priest was identified as a convicted sex offender prior to these events.
• The prosecution detailed how Priest and Sherrington directly perpetrated the rapes against the vulnerable minor.

Passing sentence, Judge de Bertadano stated: 'Each of you in your own way exploited this vulnerable boy. Therefore you are each partly responsible for his situation as a young man who is struggling to get his life back together and finds himself unable to escape from the legacy you have left him.' Assistant Chief Constable Carl Foulkes of West Midlands Police described the crimes as 'horrific' and noted lessons learned from the case. The inquiry also uncovered another victim indecently assaulted by co-defendant Ronald Potter years earlier.