The senior investigating officer has revealed there are other 'ongoing' investigations connected to the serious child abuse case, dubbed Operation Moccason.

Detective Chief Inspector Pete Hornby would not be drawn on the nature of the investigations or who they relate to but did confirm that 'there are other investigations' and that 'they are ongoing investigations' which have been generated as a result of inquiries into Moccason.

Yesterday three people - Marie Black, Jason Adams and Michael Rogers - were found guilty of being involved in a paedophile ring centred on Black, 34, from Norwich.

Det Chf Insp Hornby, who described it as 'One of the worst cases I've been involved with in my 23 my years of policing', said: 'We're talking whole life abuse with many of the kids up to the point of safety.'

He said he was 'satisfied' following what had been a 'complicated and protracted' investigation spanning some 28 months.

He said: 'The priority in this case as with any child protection issue is always the safety, protection and welfare of the child.'

He said the case had given 'a sickening glimpse into sex abuse on a large scale'.

He added that the police will 'always seek to protect the most vulnerable' and insisted this case showed that 'children and the voice of the child will be heard'.

The original police investigation in 2010 was dropped after the allegations could not be corroborated.

Det Chf Insp Hornby said: 'Only one of the children disclosed and as only one of them disclosed there was no corroboration opportunities and on that basis it was not continued with from a crown prosecution point of view.'

But he insisted that as a result of the allegations the victim and other children involved were 'safeguarded', thus meaning there was 'no opportunities' for further abuse.

He praised the 'incredible courage' that led to all victims being safeguarded even if, at that point, the criminal investigation came to an end.

He said: 'Disclosure to any form of abuse, not just sexual, does take courage. It's one of these things that irrespective of what the abuse is, people do need to just gain that little bit of courage and the confidence that the police are going to deal with it.'

Operation Moccason by numbers

• Number of people connected with the investigation: Seven members of staff including DCI, two Sgts, DC, PCs and Disclosure Officers.

• Number of statements taken: 76 used in evidence and many more unused.

• Number of other documents: Thousands.

• Number of exhibits: Minimum of 176 as again there are so many exhibits that are unused.

• Number of actions completed by officers which lead to numerous other tasks: 234.

• Number of interviews of defendants in 2012 enquiry: Each defendant was interviewed twice.