Caroline Dunsmore, John O'Flaherty and Morris Petch at court

A third member of the paedophile ring failed to turn up at the High Court in Edinburgh and a warrant has now been issued for his arrest.

Morris Petch, 50, was convicted on Thursday of raping the girls but failed to appear on Friday.

Caroline Dunsmore, 43, and John O'Flaherty, 50, both pleaded guilty to abuse against one of the girls earlier.

Lord Malcolm had been due to consider sentencing all three as soon as Petch's trial was finished but on Friday he called for background reports on Dunsmore and O'Flaherty.

However, in spite of warning both that they faced almost certain jail sentences, the judge let them go on bail.

We have been subjected to horrific sexual, physical, sadistic abuse run by the King family in the Pilton area Victim

After Petch failed to show up by 1200 BST, Lord Malcolm issued a warrant for his arrest.

Advocate depute Iain McSporran, prosecuting, described how - from a very early age - one of the girls fell victim to the ring.

Being raped became "a way of life" he said, and the abuse was "extraordinary". Offences took place at a caravan in Perthshire on a night in 1990 and for several years before at a house in Edinburgh.

The court heard the older girl was abused from the age of six. She told police how her torment started when Dunsmore's ex-husband, Billy King, who has since died, ordered her to perform a sexual act on him.

The same happened during group sex sessions, the court heard.

"During the course of the rapes (the girl) cried out: 'It's hurting' and cried for the men to stop. They did not," the court was told.

Paedophile ring

Mr McSporran said when O'Flaherty was questioned by police he initially denied all the allegations but eventually admitted he had sex with the girl about 12 times and also admitted he knew other men were having sex with her.

The years of abuse were orchestrated by King with the help of his wife, Dunsmore. Petch and O'Flaherty were friends of King.

Mr McSporran also said that others may yet face charges as a result of ongoing police investigations into what the girls told them.

After the court hearing the older victim, now 26-years-old, said: "We have been subjected to horrific sexual, physical, sadistic abuse run by the King family in the Pilton area. This was a paedophile ring."

Dunsmore also pleaded guilty to three other charges of rape and indecency involving the same child - allowing her ex-husband to have sex with the girl.