Sadistic pair jailed for ‘black magic’ rape of 11-year-old girl

Their victim blocked out memories of the abuse for almost four decades until they came back during counselling for bereavement and depression in 2011

The trial was at Cardiff Crown Court last month (Google Maps)

A sadistic couple who bullied a schoolgirl into submission with “black magic” threats before she was raped have been jailed for 17 years.

Carolee Hickman, from St Athan, South Wales, told the 11-year-old she was a part of a “powerful” witches’ coven before forcing her to have sex with her husband, Albert.

Their victim, who is now in her 50s and cannot be named for legal reasons, blocked out memories of the abuse for almost four decades until they came back during counselling for bereavement and depression in 2011.

She told the Hickmans’ trial at Cardiff Crown Court last month that Mrs Hickman would make threats to kill her mother with black magic – using Tarot cards and wearing a black cape.

And the court heard that Ms Hickman, now 64, sucked her young victim’s blood after cutting her thumb with a special “bejewelled knife”.

After the schoolgirl was held down by his wife, former RAF worker Mr Hickman, now 65, raped her.

A statement from the victim said that the Hickmans had destroyed her life and that she still could not sleep with the light off.

Passing sentence at Merthyr Crown Court yesterday, Judge Daniel Williams described the Hickmans’ abuse as chilling and said they had ruthlessly exploited their victim. “The psychological effects on her have been ruinous,” he said.

In 1982, the Hickmans were given a jail sentence at Northampton Crown Court – for a separate offence. Judge Williams said the 1980s abuse could have been prevented –had police properly investigated the rape of the 11-year-old some 10 years earlier.