Couple jailed over abuse of adopted girls

A couple committed a "deplorable and terrible betrayal of trust" against their two adopted children they allowed to be abused by paedophiles, a judge has said.

Both girls told their parents about their ordeals but nothing was done to prevent further assaults.

The mother said she could not step in because one of the paedophiles "helped them with money and a car".

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The husband and wife, aged 56 and 55, who live in the Trafford borough of Greater Manchester, were convicted of child cruelty.

The adoptive father was also found guilty in August of sexually abusing the elder girl over a six-year period.

Judge Jonathan Geake sentenced the husband to nine years in jail while his wife was jailed for five years at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Last year, paedophiles Colin Molloy and Sam Nelson were jailed after admitting a string of sexual offences involving the two youngsters, which started when they were as young as seven and 13.

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Molloy, 46, admitted nine counts of raping the younger girl. while Nelson, 43, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with both girls.

The girls complained to their mother about the activities of Nelson and Molloy, while the father was made aware of Molloy.

Sentencing the pair yesterday, Judge Geake said: "This was a deplorable and total failure to protect those two girls from the risks posed.

"These were children adopted by you and because of their unfortunate start in life they were probably more vulnerable than other children. They were entitled to proper care and protection."

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Both parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons, relied on babysitting, lifts home and, to some extent, cash from Molloy and Nelson, the judge continued.

"You were prepared to put your own practical convenience before their safety," he said.

"This was a a deplorable and terrible betrayal of trust. No one can know how much damage this has done to these two girls both physically and psychologically."

Following sentencing, Detective Sergeant Charlotte Whalley, of Trafford public protection investigation unit, said: "Even though these girls had the bravery to tell an adult what was happening to them, it was allowed to continue.

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"Thankfully the girls were courageous enough to report the matter to the police and all the people involved have been prosecuted for their horrendous crimes."

The couple maintained their innocence, the court was told.

Ahmed Nadim, representing the father, said his client had poor health and asked for that to be taken into account on sentencing.

He has very limited mobility, diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis, he said.

Patrick Cassidy, for the mother, said psychological reports showed she had a "lengthy history of depression" over the last 30 years.

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He said: "Her periodic agoraphobic tendencies combined with anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia all point to a defendant who had less capacity to respond and less culpability even because of the situation she had with her health."

He added she already recognised the consequences of the conviction after she was displaced from her home after news of the verdict spread on her estate.

She was forced to live in a hostel for the homeless following her release on bail pending sentencing.

He questioned whether both defendants with "plain difficulties in their own lives" would have found themselves in the dock if they had not been allowed to adopt in the first place.

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Judge Geake said the couple had been deemed individually and collectively as suitable to adopt the girls separately but said the reality was that "neither of you was remotely suitable or trustworthy as a parent".

Following conviction, Manchester City Council, which conducted the adoption process, said a "full assessment and proper checks" were carried out.

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