Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Ideal age to play is up to 3 after that they talk too much’
Court told of web chats as child abuse accused bail is revoked
CHAT room conversations being linked to a couple facing child sex abuse charges involved a claim the “ideal age to play with is up until three”, a court heard yesterday.
Disturbing allegations were made as Heather Talbot had her bail revoked at the High Court amid claims she took part in the abuse and fuelled her partner’s child sex fantasies.
Prosecutors added online chat logs point to she and her husband Gary Talbot had targeted other, still unidentified, young victims.
One discussion on the dark web referred to the ideal age being up to three because after that “they talk too much”, a judge was told.
Talbot, 57, a cleaner from Kinghill Avenue in Newcastle, Co Down, is charged with eight sexual offences including aiding and abetting rape, inciting and committing gross indecency with a child, and indecent assault on a female.
She is further accused of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of a child.
Her husband faces similar offences and two counts of raping the girl. The charges relate to a period between 2001 and 2003 when the child was said to be aged between two and four.
Police uncovered the alleged abuse after they searched the couple’s house in October last year, seizing computers and mobile phones.
Crown lawyer Philip Henry revealed up to 500,000 indecent images of children were found which allegedly depicted both defendants in sexual activity with the victim at their home.
RAPING
Gary Talbot was said to have told police he made “sexy photographs” of the girl, and admitted to raping and sexually assaulting her.
His wife was allegedly present and may have taken some of the photos, according to his account.
The court was told she denies recording the abuse. Mr Henry said: “She admitted purchasing the items with her husband, that she dressed the victim for him and was present when photos were taken of the child... undressing.
“She claimed she was unaware what happened between her husband and the victim.”
Heather Talbot also told police other images of her and the girl both naked were innocently taken just after a bath. It was claimed, however, the couple used fake names ‘Mike’ and ‘Fiona’ on swinger sites and visit dark web chatrooms.
Based on the content of alleged conversations, Mr Henry argued there had been other child victims. During one chat in May 2011 ‘Mike’ states that ‘Fiona’ “will play with any age girl”, but believes boys would be “no fun” until they are about two, counsel claimed.
Another entry, again believed to have been by the male, discussed the couple seeking types of sex with children and described bathing together with a child nine years previously.
Asked in the online exchanges if there had been any others, the reply was: “A few, mostly one-offs and none as long as we had with her.”
The court heard police believe this was a reference to the girl in the photos.
Another discussion allegedly referred to “Fiona” “doing her dirty talk about tiny ones” and adds after the age of two “it’s too much of a risk”.
The prosecution contended that a further exchange took place with someone who displayed an image of a five-month old girl. Defence counsel Tom Mccreanor insisted there is no evidence Heather Talbot is responsible for any of the chats.
But granting the prosecution appeal, Mrs Justice Keegan cited the potential risk of interference with the administration of justice.
He said: “I’m not convinced a case is made out in relation to the minor role suggested by the
defence.”
She admitted she dressed the victim for her husband
PHILIP HENRY HIGH COURT YESTERDAY