A Paarl couple have been convicted after the Paarl Regional Court imposed 16 life sentences and an additional 12 years’ direct imprisonment for the trafficking, rape and grooming of two vulnerable teenage girls, Cape {town} Etc reports. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the victims came from deeply challenging backgrounds. Instead of providing genuine care, the court found that the couple manipulated the girls’ dependence on them for food, clothing and shelter. The evidence showed that the abuse was systematic and continued over a period of time.’ ‘The sentences imposed reflect the gravity of these heinous offences and the profound harm inflicted on two vulnerable young girls,’ Mopp said.