A MAN and woman have been jailed for a total of 14 and a half years for sexually abusing children.

Grant Francis, 28, of St James Road, Vange, and Hayley Morgan, 20, of Longmead, Pitsea, carried out a string of sexual offences against children aged between nine and 14.

They were charged in December last year following an investigation by detectives from Essex Police.

Morgan had admitted all the charges against her but Francis had denied some of those against him.

He was convicted on all counts following a trial at both Southend and Basildon Crown Courts.

Francis was handed a 12 year prison sentence, while Francis was jailed for two and a half years.

Officers from the Essex Police online investigation team had painstakingly built up an extensive timeline of the offending by the pair.

It detailed evidence of the two conspiring and working together to abuse children.

It also included computer records showing them collaborating and planning abuse, with internet messages from Francis to Morgan directing her to approach certain children online, which she then did and reported back on her progress.

Detective Inspector Danny Stoten, said:"On Monday we saw justice for the victims in this case. This vile pair of offenders conspired together to groom and sexually abuse children from within the community.

"Francis had continued to deny the full scale of his abhorrent behaviour forcing his victims to relive their ordeal in court. But these vulnerable victims have shown bravery beyond their years in agreeing to testify and make sure there was no escape for their abusers.

"I wish to offer all those who testified against Morgan and Francis my heartfelt thanks for their assistance. I would also like to thank Dc Jenna McQueen and Dc Mark Sibley for their continuing hard work on this enquiry, which has brought justice for the victims. They were a formidable investigative team."

Francis was found guilty of one count of rape, one count of attempted rape, two counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13.

He was also found guilty of two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15, two counts of assaulting a girl under 13, one count of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, one count of assaulting a female aged 13 and, two counts of sexual assault, and three counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child.

Morgan admitted two counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13, one count of sexual assault, one count of making an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child, one count of taking an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child and ten counts of distributing an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child.