UK: Couple jailed for sexually assaulting 13-month-old girl they were babysitting

A married couple faces a total of 27 years in prison after being found guilty of subjecting a female child with 'appalling' sexual acts for two years between 2012 and 2014. The couple from Orton Goldhay in Cambridgeshire were babysitting the child when the abuses occurred.

The first abuse took place in 2012, when the victim was only 13 months old, said Cambridgeshire Police. Amongst the pictures recovered by police, Michael Chase, 52, was found sexually assaulting the young child. Judge Sean Enright handed a 14-year prison sentence to Michael and a 13-year prison term to his wife Lara Chase, 46, on 11 March at the Peterborough Crown Court.

Lara had pleaded not guilty and maintained that she was not aware of her husband's paedophilia, however a jury found her guilty of helping Michael carry out the sexual abuse crimes. Michael was charged on several counts of sexually assaulting a child and taking and possessing nearly 4,524 indecent pictures.

"I am pleased that the family of the young victim in this case have received justice for what can only be described as every parent's worst nightmare," said Detective Constable Lloyd Metselaar, reported The Independent. "The appalling acts committed together by both Michael and Lara on such a young child who had been entrusted into their care, demonstrate the most serious breach of trust. This case shows the determination and dedication of Cambridgeshire's specially trained officers to bring to justice anyone involved in targeting the most vulnerable in society."

In another tragic story of child abuse, a 35-year-old woman from Marysville, US, was convicted of allowing men to carry out sexual acts on her six-year-old daughter in exchange for money. The woman was charged with child rape, molestation and promoting the commercial sexual abuse of a minor on 2 February and faces a 26-year prison term.