An Australian family carried on cruel sexual abuse of numerous victims for three decades before they were finally brought to justice.

The Coventry Telegraph reports that Anthony Potts and three of his family members were sentenced this week after three decades of “horrific” child sexual abuse. Two other family members were given lesser sentences after pleading guilty to neglect, while another relative’s sentence is still pending.

Anthony Potts was sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of 13 counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and nine counts of inciting a child to perform a sexual act and cruelty. All of the rape counts involved children.

Judge Carr reportedly told Potts that his family’s case was the worst he had ever seen in 50 years as he handed over the sentence at Birmingham Crown Court.

“You are a deeply depraved man who has taken many, many opportunities to abuse children and corrupt them,” the judge said, according to Coventry Live.

“These are horrendous offences … In 50 years practice and presiding over cases like this, I cannot think of a worse one.”

Anthony’s father Keith Potts and Keith’s wife Julie were sentenced to eight years and seven years in prison, respectively, for their participation in the ongoing child sex abuse.

Anthony’s wife Elaine Potts, and family friend Joanne Hoye were each sentenced to four years. And his half-brother Joshua Potts, 25, will serve at least ten years in prison, according to the BBC.

Another brother, Nathan Potts, is still awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of two counts of rape of a child, four counts of sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sex with an adult relative, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Reports of child sex abuse against the Potts family go back to the year 1989, when a girl reported Anthony Potts to police, and told them what he had done to her. But her case was never brought to trail, and it wasn’t until 2015 that three more victims, all under the age of 14, made similar accusations against the family; but still, no charges were brought against the Potts, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The next year, after a fifth victim came forward, the case we reopened and the details about the decades of abuse began to emerge.

Jurors heard victim impact statements from some of those who had earlier come forward, and they described being “groomed and brainwashed” by the family’s abuse.

[Feature image: Anthony Potts and Nathan Potts/West Midland Police]