A grooming gang which preyed on girls was not racially or religiously motivated, a judge ruled.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the defendants in the Operation Shelter trial, focused on exploitation of vulnerable girls in the West End of Newcastle, were of "Asian extraction" and largely British-born, although some were born abroad.

John Elvidge QC, prosecuting, said the victims who gave evidence in court were all "white British".

But the ethnicity of other potential targets was not known, he said, and one vulnerable girl who did not engage with police was black, and an Asian girl was seen at a party.

One defendant, who was not sentenced on Tuesday, had made racist remarks towards a ticket inspector, but he was cleared of any sexual offence.

Judge Penny Moreland said the gang picked out their victims "not because of their race, but because they were young, impressionable, naive and vulnerable".

She said: "This is extremely serious offending against vulnerable members of society and that is the basis on which I intend to sentence."