Two paedophiles who subjected children to horrific sex abuse have been jailed for life.

Judge Philip Statman told brothers Lee and Colin Wicks, convicted after a seven-week trial featuring "gruelling evidence", that the offences called for "exemplary sentences".

Tina Butcher, 42, who helped her boyfriend Lee Wicks rape a young girl was jailed for eight years.

Both brothers, who will each serve a minimum of nine-and-a-half years, maintain their innocence and Lee Wicks has vowed to commit suicide in prison.

Lee Wicks, 41, of Chapel Street, Minster, was convicted of eight charges of rape, six of indecency with a child, nine of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.

He was cleared of one rape charge by direction of the Maidstone Crown Court judge.

Colin Wicks, 46, of Castle Road, Chatham, was convicted of four charges of rape, one of incitement to commit a serious sexual offence, two of indecency with a child and one of indecent assault.

Butcher, of Collett Walk, Gillingham, was convicted of one charge of rape in assisting Lee Wicks to commit the offence on one of the victims.

Lee Wicks dragged another girl off her bike in Sheerness and assaulted her. She later revealed he threatened to kill her if she told anybody about the abuse.