Northern Ireland

Photographic evidence of couple sexually abusing child uncovered by police, court told

Police seized several computers and mobile phones after searching the couple's property last year
Police seized several computers and mobile phones after searching the couple's property last year Police seized several computers and mobile phones after searching the couple's property last year

A CO Down woman allegedly bought stockings and underwear to dress up a young child before her husband raped her, a court heard yesterday.

Downpatrick Magistrates Court also heard claims the police uncovered photographic evidence that showed Gary Talbot (58) and his 57-year-wife Heather engaging in sexual acts with the as yet unidentified youngster.

Gary Talbot faces two counts of raping a child under the age of five.

His wife Heather is accused of aiding and abetting rape.

The couple, from Kinghill Avenue in Newcastle, both face further charges of gross indecency with a child, aiding and abetting gross indecency, and inciting gross indecency.

In addition, they are accused of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children online.

The court heard the allegations date back to between 2001 and 2003 when the alleged victim, named in police interviews by Gary Talbot but who police have not been able to contact, was aged between 18 months and five years.

The abuse allegedly took place at their home, about 15 years ago.

Gary Talbot did not apply for bail and while district judge Eamon King granted bail to Heather Talbot, she was remanded into custody as the prosecution intend to appeal his decision in the High Court in Belfast today.

A detective constable told the court the couples’ home was initially searched last October when a number of devices, computers and a laptop, were seized as part of a separate investigation.

The officer revealed that when the devices were examined, “a number of digital images were found which clearly show Gary and Heather Talbot engaging in sexual activity with a child two to four years-old at their home address.”

During interviews following their arrest last week, Gary Talbot admitted “making a collection of sexy videos...admitted rape, sexually assaulting and gross indecency with the child.”

He further confessed, the court heard, “that his wife was present” during some incidents and “could’ve taken some of the photos,” some of which he distributed to “like minded individuals in chat rooms.”

Turning to Heather Talbot’s interviews, the officer said she had “never seen the child before” but when shown the photographic evidence, did admit the girl had been at their home.

“She has stated that she had gone with her husband to purchase the dressing up outfits for the victim and that he had discussed with her prior to that that he had fantasised about children," revealed the detective.

Mrs Talbot had also admitted to “dressing the victim for her husband” but claimed she left the room so “did not know what happened after that".

In relation to chat logs found on the couples’ computer, the detective said Mrs Talbot admitted she had accessed “adult swinging websites with her husband and would use fake names on the sites” but claimed the logs where there was discussions about the sexual abuse of children “were all written by her husband".

She said there was evidence the couple had distributed images and had been “ communicating with like minded individuals on the dark web,” further revealing that police had found a six page document of a “very concerning nature".

District Judge Eamon King said the couple “face most serious allegations” of child sex abuse, “recording that activity and then he sharing of it.”

While he remanded Gary Talbot into custody to appear again on March 1 via videolink, he said he would free his wife on her own bail of £750 but with numerous conditions in that she must live at a police approved address and barring her from having any contact with a child, contacting any witness or her husband and imposing a prohibition on any electronic device which could access the internet.

Following that ruling however, the Public Prosecution Service lawyer said the prosecution intended to appeal that decision to the High Court today