Leigh couple jailed for child sexual assaults and image offences

Jay Shaw and Katie Vernon were jailed at Liverpool Crown Court for offences involving children.

Shaw, 49, received nine and a half years in prison, while Vernon, 31, received four and a half years.

The investigation began with evidence of cross-border offending linked to a contact detectives identified as Shaw.

A search of his home in Leigh found a hidden phone containing thousands of indecent images of children and evidence of assaults.

The phone also contained images of Vernon assaulting a young boy, and she was arrested.

Shaw admitted five sexual assaults involving children, making and possessing more than 5,000 indecent images, distributing images and possessing a manual about abusing children; Vernon admitted one sexual assault.

Both must remain on the sex offenders register for life and received lifelong sexual harm prevention orders, which restrict their behaviour to help protect others.