Malcolm and Susan Smith and Albert and Carole Hickman, were convicted in Telford, Shropshire for a series of sexual and physical assaults against children during satanic rituals. Malcolm Smith carved an inverted cross on one child’s abdomen and branded her genitals with a red-hot altar knife.
A judge today jailed two couples after hearing how they indulged themselves in devil worship and a “web of sexual corruption” with young children.
One of the men believed he was the devil incarnate and found handmaidens in his former Salvation Army wife and sister-in-
law, Northampton Crown Court was told. Mr Justice Drake said he was “revolted. Disgusted and horrified” by their sexual behaviour, and said both men had let themselves be ruled by “unbridled and perverted lust.”
Malcolm and Susan Smith of Southgate Sutton Hill Telford, and Albert and Carole Hickman of Chockleys Meadow Leegomery Telford, all pleaded guilty to a series of serious sexual offences against young children.
Mr Desmond Fennell, prosecuting, said the satanic sex ring was formed after Malcolm Smith became involved with Mrs Hickman. Smith believed he was the devil and enlisted both 32 year old Mrs Hickman and his 23 year old wife as his handmaidens.
Smith was jailed for 14 years. Hickman for ten years. Carole Hickman for five years, and Susan for two years.
GIRL BRANDED
Mr Fennell said 28 year old Smith Believed he had the right to sex with any girl he chose, and of any age, and encouraged the women to bring younger girls within the ring.
One 15 year old girl who was brought in became so convinced he was Satan that she allowed him to brand her with a hot dagger, he said.
Albert Hickman, aged 34, was said to have stayed apart from the devil worship he became “an enthusiastic and willing” participant in sexual acts with children.
Mr Fennell said Hickman was a man “of heightened sexual appetites.” and hard-core pornographic books were found at his
home.
Mrs Hickman deluded herself that she had the power of a witch and gathered together the various trappings of devil
worship. She conducted a satanic wedding for her sister and brother-in-law after which Mrs Smith became a novice in devil
worship.
Malcolm Smith had admitted unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16, committing an indecent act on her, and causing her grievous bodily harm. His wife pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting him on each occasion. They also both admitted two offences of indecent assaults on young girls.
Albert Hickman pleaded guilty to having unlawful sexual intercourse with a child and attempting unlawful sex. His wife admitted aiding and abetting him.
Hickman also admitted two offenses of indecent assault on young girls and one of committing and indecent act. His wife pleaded guilty to indecent assault and committing an indecent act.
Mr Justice Drake said he had been told Mrs Smith had since been converted back to Christianity and was seeking a divorce.
Albert and Carole Hickman
A sadistic couple who bullied a schoolgirl into submission with “black magic” threats before raping her have been jailed for 17 years, at Merthyr Crown Court.
Carolee Hickman, from St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, told the girl, 11, she was a part of a “powerful” witches’ coven.
She then forced her to have sex with her husband, Albert.
The girl blocked it out for 40 years until it came back during counseling in 2011.
The victim, now 53, and cannot be named for legal reasons, told the trial last month that Hickman would make threats to kill her mother using black magic.
The court heard that Hickman now 64, sucked her young victim’s blood after cutting her thumb with a special “bejeweled knife”.
‘Chilling’
After the schoolgirl was held down by his wife, former RAF worker Albert Hickman, now 65, raped her.
A statement from the victim said the couple had destroyed her life and she could still not sleep with the light off.
“Forty-two years ago a little girl met two evil people who took advantage of her,” the statement read.
“My life has been destroyed at their hands.”
Sentencing the Hickmans on Thursday, Judge Dan Williams described them as chilling and said they had ruthlessly exploited their victim.
“You were a couple united by a deep-seated and overwhelming abuse of children,” he said.
“You groomed her and gained her trust, you told her you had supernatural powers and that she was the ‘chosen one’ and you put the fear of God into her.
“It was a specific targeting of a vulnerable victim and threats were made which petrified her.”
The court heard Albert Hickman was previously jailed for 10 years for raping a young girl in 1982.
The jury was also told his wife was jailed for five years in 1982 after admitting holding down a child while she was raped as part of “devil worship” which required a virgin girl.
