A woman raped a young girl with a 62-year-old man and shared sickening images of the horrific abuse. Vicki Bevan, 37, sexually abused the vulnerable victim, who cannot be identified because she is entitled to anonymity for the rest of her life.
Bevan raped and performed sex acts on the child with Paul Rafferty, 62, and also molested her with a second man, 42-year-old Tony Hutton. The abuse was filmed and photographed, which ultimately led to the arrest of the three paedophiles. They had been set to stand trial in April, but the two men entered guilty pleas to a string of sexual offences earlier this month.
Bevan, of Napier Street, St Helens, snivelled and cried when she today pleaded guilty to 34 sexual offences. The pervert, with long brown hair and wearing a pink zip-up top, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link from HMP Styal.
She mumbled when asked to confirm her personal details, before starting to cry as she was arraigned. Bevan admitted one count of raping a child under 13; five counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration; two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13; one count of sexual activity with a child; and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The rape, one of the counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration and one of the counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 were carried out jointly with Rafferty, of Fry Street, St Helens.
One of the other counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 involved Bevan and Hutton, of Liverpool Street, St Helens, both performing a sex act on the victim. Bevan also pleaded guilty to 15 counts of making an indecent image of a child.
The court heard they involved making Category A – the most serious category, showing child rape – images of the victim, along with Category B and C images. The woman pleaded guilty to two further counts of making indecent images of children, relating to 52 Category A and 42 Category B images.
Bevan also admitted three counts of distributing indecent photos of children, relating to sharing 10 Category A, two Category B and 18 Category C images.
She admitted two counts of possessing extreme pornography, relating to 100 “grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise obscene” animal porn images.
Rafferty previously admitted one count of raping a child under 13; one count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration; one count of sexual assault of a child under 13; and six counts of making indecent images of a child, in Categories A to C.
Hutton previously admitted one count of sexual assault of a child under 13 and three counts of making indecent images of a child, relating to two Category A and one Category C image.
Jonathan Duffy, defending Bevan, today said the two co-accused would be sentenced on March 25 this year and asked that Bevan be sentenced on the same date.
He said: “Steps are currently in place for her to be seen by a psychiatrist. It’s likely there will be a psychiatric report served in due course.”
Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, said pre-sentence reports had already been ordered on behalf of Rafferty and Hutton.
Judge Andrew Menary, QC, said he would also require a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service on Bevan.
The Honorary Recorder of Liverpool directed that the report must consider exclusively “the issue of dangerousness” – whether Bevan is a dangerous offender, as defined by law.
If the three paedophiles are found to be dangerous offenders, then they may receive extended sentences.
They would then spend at least two thirds – rather than half of the custodial term – behind bars, before they can apply to the Parole Board and ask for their release.
Judge Menary vacated the trial, which was listed for April 25, and adjourned Bevan’s sentence until March 25.
He told Bevan she would now be subject to interim notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.
Bevan sobbed as Judge Menary remanded her in custody.
