Couple jailed for watching live child abuse

The sentencing took place at Chelmsford Crown Court

A couple have been jailed after using a video chat site to film themselves having sex in return for watching live footage of a child being abused.

Nick Barrett, 23, of Clayton Road, Harwich, Essex, has been jailed for seven years and will be on licence for a further five years after pleading guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Summer Andrew, 23, of Old Road, Clacton, had denied arranging the commission of a child sex offence but was found guilty and has been jailed for three years.

The couple had livestreamed themselves performing sexual activities while a man at the other end of the call was abusing the child.

The offences took place in 2021 when the couple were both 20.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Chris Morgan said: "The two of you were in a relationship, and at the time of the offence Miss Andrews was pregnant with Mr Barrett's child."

Sentencing Barrett, the judge said the "lack of maturity is evident".

He called Andrew "a willing participant".