THE bravery of the victims who testified against the child sex gang was praised in the House of Commons by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg yesterday.

Mr Clegg, pictured, called for the “evil” criminals to be given the severest possible sentences.

The Deputy Prime Minister told the Commons that he was appalled by news that the group of teenage girls were continually raped over a period of eight years, and that more had to be done to ensure that social institutions co-ordinated efforts to clamp down on networks preying on the young and vulnerable.

Responding to a question by Margot James, Conservative MP for Stourbridge, Mr Clegg said: “I’m sure you speak for everybody in this House not only out of a sense of revulsion on these acts, but also I think we should pay tribute to the courage of these young women, whose childhood and innocence was so horridly destroyed by this evil gang. The courage that it must have taken to come forward and give evidence is something we should all pay tribute to.”

Mrs James had asked Mr Clegg during Prime Minister’s Questions if he agreed with her that courts should impose “the most severe penalties” so victims received “the justice they were denied by the local authorities”.

Mr Clegg said: “I certainly agree that there are lessons which should be learnt about how police forces and social services work together, but also that they are handed the severest possible sentences in response to this reprehensible crime.”

Mr Clegg was standing in for Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron, who is in the United States of America.