A promising young Arsenal and England footballer has been jailed for nine years for his part in a string of vicious group sex attacks on women and girls as young as 14.

Marcus Artry, 18, from Olive Road, Cricklewood, took part in three different assaults, dragging one 14-year-old victim screaming into a public toilet telling her 'you are going to lose your virginity'.

Artry, who has been a member of the Arsenal youth team for eight years and represented England at under-18 level, attacked the women between March 2002 and February 2003 along with 18-year-old Kyle Reid, from Woolwich, and a 17-year-old and 14-year-old, who both cannot be named for legal reasons. Although younger, Inner London Crown Court heard that the 14-year-old, described as a talented amateur boxer, took a lead role in the assaults.

The attacks started when the gang picked on a 14-year-old girl who lived in south-east London. They slapped and molested her in the street.

Then, they pulled another 14-year-old girl into a public toilet by Woolwich Dock Station in November. The 17-year-old had sex with her before Artry and the 14-year-old sexually assaulted her.

Later, Artry forced the same girl to perform oral sex on him on January 18, after she had unlawful sexual intercourse with Reid on the balcony at a house party. The 14-year-old also had sex with her. The group then told her they would beat her if she went to the police.

On February 8, Artry and the 14-year-old struck for the last time, attacking a 28-year-old woman on her way home from the pub in south-east London. Artry and the 14-year-old took turns raping her while the others pinned her down in between two parked cars.

Artry claimed the woman was a prostitute and denied rape, and told jurors how he continued with the assault despite a neighbour seeing him.

He was convicted of one charge of rape, one of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child. The youngest member of the gang, who is now 15, was also convicted of rape having earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of indecency with a child, one charge of indecent assault and one of unlawful sexual intercourse. Both he and Artry were jailed for nine years each for their part in the 'horrific and terrifying' attacks. Reid was jailed for 18 months and the 17-year-old was jailed for two years.

Sentencing Artry and the 14-year-old on Friday, Judge Colin Smith QC said: "I sentence both of you for horrific and terrifying rapes. You both pose a risk of causing serious sexual harm to young women. Women must be protected from you."