ADDITIONAL "victims have been identified by police” investigating a married couple who are facing a catalogue of sex offences, a court heard today.
With Gary and Heather Talbot appearing at Downpatrick Magistrates Court via videolink, a prosecution lawyer told the court that, while more victims have been identified, “they have yet to be located.”
“The police investigation is very much still in its infancy,” said the lawyer who asked for the case to be put back for a week.
District Judge Amanda Brady remanded the couple back into custody to appear again on March 8.
Gary Talbot (58) and his 57-year-wife Heather, from Kinghill Avenue in Newcastle, Co Down, are jointly charged with gross indecency with a child, inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency, indecent assault and three counts alleging they possessed, made and distributed indecent images of a child.
In addition, Mr Talbot faces two counts of rape and his wife a count of aiding and abetting rape on dates unknown between 2001 and 2003 when the alleged victim, was aged between approximately 18 months and five years
When the couple were initially charged four weeks ago, the court heard claims that Mrs Talbot allegedly bought stockings and underwear for the infant female before her husband raped her.
A detective further claimed the police had uncovered photographic evidence that showed Gary Talbot engaging in sexual acts, including rape.
Giving evidence to the court a police officer said the couple's home was initially searched last October when a number of devices, computers and a laptop, were seized.
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.”
Following their arrests the court heard Mr Talbot identified the child to officers and at that stage, despite their efforts, police had been unable to get in touch with her.
Turning to Mrs Talbot’s interviews, the officer said she claimed she had “never seen the child before” but when shown the photographic evidence, did admit the girl had been at their home.
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 between her husband and the victim.”
In relation to chat logs found on the couple's computer, the detective said Mrs Talbot admitted she had accessed “adult swinging websites with her husband and would use fake names on the sites”.
“Heather Talbot is an active participant in the offences committed against this child, making preparations by purchasing the clothing and dressing the child in the clothing, knowing that her husband told her he fantasised about sexual activity with a child," the officer told the court at the time.
She said there was evidence the couple had distributed images and had been “communicating with like minded individuals on the dark web".
