A couple, who are on the run after admitting their role in a child sex ring, have been sentenced to serve a total of 13 years behind bars.

Paul Silverthorn, 35, and Leila Kassam, 31, both of Mornington Road, Leytonstone, were sentenced in absence today (Monday, June 27) at Blackfriars Crown Court.

The pair had pleaded guilty abusing two 15-year-old girls, before they disappeared earlier this year.

Silverthorn was sentenced to nine years in jail, while Kassam will serve four years. Both were added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Silverthorn admitted to having sex with a girl under 16, possessing prohibited images of a child and distributing indecent photographs.

Kassam pleaded guilty to having sex with a girl under 16 and arranging the commission of a child sex offence.

Silverthorn was further found guilty of administering a substance with the intent to overpower to allow sexual activity in his absence in relation to the first victim.

The couple had sex with a 15-year-old after she was introduced to them by 20-year-old “fixer” Daniel Trinnaman.

Silverthorn tied the girl to a bed after she was given the legal high '5 NEO' at a party at a flat in Coventry House, Haymarket, before Kassam molested her.

The couple sexually abused a second 15-year-old girl and Silverthorn took explicit photos of the teenager.

The fourth member of the group, Faham Jaffer, 33, of High Street, Colliers Wood, also had sex with the girl after Kassam texted him a photo with a message, which read: “Only got me and a cute little 15-year-old”.

Trinnaman, of Ventnor Avenue, Stanmore, befriended young girls at parties and introduced them to his co-defendants.

In return he was given drugs and was taken on a trip to Amsterdam by Silverthorn and Kassam.

Jabber and Trinnaman were jailed for two and two-and-a-half years respectively earlier this month.

Silverthorn and Kassam’s whereabouts is currently unknown. Police have issued a warrant for their arrest.