Two members of a child sex ring are on the run after they were convicted in absence of abusing girls who were plied with booze and legal highs.

Paul Silverthorn, 35, and lover Leila Kassam, 31, both of Mornington Road, Leytonstone, had sex with a 15-year-old after she was introduced to them by 20-year-old “fixer” Daniel Trinnaman.

Silverthorn stifled her screams with a ball gag and tied her to a bed after she was given the legal high '5 NEO' at a party at a flat in Coventry House, Haymarket.

Kassam then molested the girl for Silverthorn's gratification, Blackfriars Crown Court heard.

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, had sex with the second 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, known to the group's victims as Pedro, was the 'link man' in the sex ring.

He 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.

Robert Evans, prosecuting, said: “This is a group of friends aged in their 20s and 30s who took advantage of and sexually abused two girls aged 15.

“All of the defendants had sex with one of the victims at one time or another knowing she was only 15.”

The second girl had been befriended by Trinnaman when she was just 13 and he later admitted in text messages to a friend that he had sex with her when she was 15.

Trinnaman then posted on Facebook that the girl was accusing him of sexual abuse and urged all her friends to shun her.

Silverthown and Kassam admitted to a string of offences earlier this year but failed to attend their trial at Blackfriars Crown Court.

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.

Their current location is unknown and there is a warrant for their arrest.

Trinnaman was jailed for a total of two and a half years for his part in the sex ring.

Handing down the sentence, Judge Blacksell said: “You knew the truth, grow up and tell the truth and do not lie to parents about the whereabouts of their children.”

Pakistani-born Jaffer sobbed as the judge told him: 'You could have walked out if it upset you that much, if you were in two minds.

“You could have left, gone back on the internet or to a club, there is no point crying now. You could have just asked her age, but no.

“I sentence you to two years imprisonment, your presence in the country is a matter for the immigration officer and not for me.”

DC Rob Dewhurst, from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "This is a shocking case of child sexual exploitation.

"The defendants targeted young vulnerable girls, plying them with alcohol and what were then legal highs in order to facilitate their sexual abuse by a number of people.

“I commend the young victims for their courage in reporting the offences and giving evidence at trial.”