A detective whose police team smashed a paedophile ring believes more child abuse victims could be out there and is urging them not to suffer in silence.

Simon Christopher Collins, 58, from Chippenham, is the latest member of the sex gang to be sent to prison.

He was jailed for seven-and-a-half years on Friday for arranging the commission of a child sex offence, aiding or abetting a woman to allow bestiality, making indecent images and possessing extreme pornography.

He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court along with John Connolly, 42, and Joanne Gale, 36, both of Warrington in Cheshire.

Connolly was sentenced to 20 years for raping a child under 13 and the possession and distribution of indecent images of children and Gale received 14 years for aiding and abetting child rape and the same indecent images offences.

This means a total of seven people in the paedophile ring have been jailed following a Scotland Yard investigation.

But while the Metropolitan Police have been commended for catching the group, Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh said the investigation was far from over and is appealing for any other victims to have the courage to speak out.

“All I ask is that victims do not sit in silence – please have the confidence to disclose,” he said.

“Police and our partners will only use specially trained staff to investigate this type of crime and we are committed to providing the best possible service to victims of sexual abuse – adult or child – and bringing offenders to justice, no matter when the offence occurred.”

People can call the Met on 020 7161 3871, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or ChildLine on 0800 1111.