Mum turned blind eye to sex attack on daughter

Mum turned blind eye to sex attack on daughter

Friday 25th June 2010

A MOTHER who turned a blind eye to her 'vile' boyfriend sexually abusing her eight-year-old daughter has been jailed.

The girl had cried out for her mother during the attack in her bed but the woman did not protect her child, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The mother, who sobbed throughout the proceedings, pleaded guilty to child cruelty and was jailed for 16 weeks.

Her partner, whose behaviour was branded 'vile' by the judge, was jailed for two and a half years and put on the sex offenders' register for life.

He admitted sexual assault on a child under 13 and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. Both were banned from working with children.

Speaking to the mother, Judge Heather Lloyd said: "Your child came to you in the middle of the night and you did nothing. You were thinking only of preserving your relationship with your co-accused, not your little girl's safety or happiness."

Amy Nicholson, prosecuting, said the mother told police she didn't think her partner was a 'threat'.

Martin Hackett, defending the man, said he would say the assault was on the spur of the moment.

For the mother, John Woodward said she was distraught and felt she had completely let her daughter down.

The defendant wanted to tell the police but was in fear of her co-accused who had been violent towards her.

Detective Sergeant Charlie Haynes welcomed the sentences and praised the victim's bravery in telling the police.

Blackburn MP and former Justice Secretary Jack Straw said: “This is a fairly unusual case but it is good that it has come about.

“In many of these cases a member of the family is aware of what is going on.”

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/8240927.Mum_turned_blind_eye_to_sex_attack_on_daughter/