A woman who was jailed for life after being convicted of sexual abuse of the 'worst kind' against children is set to appeal both her conviction and sentence, it has emerged.

Marie Black was one of three people sentenced to a total of 72 years behind bars for cruelty and child sexual abuse described by Judge Nicholas Coleman as the most 'harrowing' he has ever had the 'misfortune' to preside over.

Black, 34, of Atkinson Close, Norwich was found guilty of 23 offences including rape, conspiracy to rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity following a three- month trial and in September was sentenced to life imprisonment with a tariff of 24 years.

But a spokesman for the Court of Appeal has confirmed they have received from Black an 'application to appeal' both her sentence and conviction although the process could take several months.

Black had denied 26 offences but following the trial was found guilty of all but three.

She was described as being 'cold and calculated' by Det Con Kim Taylor, the officer in the case.

Black, together with Jason Adams, 44, of Aspland Road, Norwich and Michael Rogers, 46, of Romford in Essex, were found guilty of more than 40 offences, including rape, sexual assault and actual bodily harm carried out against children who were all aged under 13 at the time.

Judge Coleman described the defendants as 'utterly depraved' and said what the victims were subjected to defied belief.