A pair of “witches” found guilty of “ritualistic, sickening abuse” of children in mid and west Cornwall have left their victims “imprisoned” by fear, Truro Crown Court was told.

Judge Graham Cottle branded Peter Petrauske and Jack Kemp “two of the surviving members of a paedophile ring” that operated in the Falmouth area during the 1970s and 80s as he sentenced them at Truro Crown Court.

A jury took just under two days to return verdicts that saw 72-year-old Petrauske – who at the time of his arrest last December was living at The Beacon in Falmouth – unanimously convicted of rape between January 1988 and January 1991 and of aiding and abetting attempted rape by person unknown between November 1982 and November 1985.

He was acquitted of one charge of indecent assault between January 1988 and January 1991.

Sixty-nine-year-old Jack Kemp, of Grenville Road in Falmouth, was convicted unanimously of one indecent assault between November 1982 and November 1984.

He was also convicted by a 10-2 majority of seven offences of indecent assault or sexual activity with a child between February 2001 and February 2005, and unanimously convicted of one count of sexual activity with a child between February 2006 and February 2007.

Kemp was acquitted of four charges of sexual activity with a child between February 2005 and February 2009.

Sentencing the pair to a total of 32 years Judge Cottle told them: “In the case of each of you I am satisfied that you have had a lifelong sexual interest in young female children.

“In your case, Kemp, it goes back to when you were a teenager; it was evident at least as long ago as your early adulthood.”

He described some of the evidence as “nothing less than harrowing”, adding: “The picture of this case is a picture of lives ruined by sexual abuse in childhood, perpetrated by indescribable offences against defenceless children. They were subjected to offences that were truly horrifying.”

He believed it was “extremely unlikely” that two of the witnesses had “any real prospect of recovery,” such were their scars.

They were now “basically imprisoned” by their fear, flashbacks and “a mountain of serious emotion problems,” he said.

Judge Cottle added: “Finally the truth about your lies and undoubted propensities has caught up with you.”

Petrauske was sentenced to 18 years in prison, minus the 359 days already served. Kemp was sentenced to 14 years in prison, minus the 28 days served.

During the trial the jury heard evidence of men in hooded black robes, ornamental knives and hot wax being poured over victims.

One witnesses described being tied to a bed and raped, while another compared herself to “a rag doll that somebody was experimenting on.”