A young married couple who plotted to abuse children as part of a paedophile love triangle are facing jail after police uncovered 'horrific' texts and indecent images of children and animals, the Daily Mail reports.

Kevin Barnett, 28, suggested drugging youngsters so he could enact his sick desires and his wife Susan, 28, said she would be willing to comfort a child as it was raped, a UK court heard.

The pair were found guilty of arranging the commission of a child sexual offence and a second woman, Nikita Moore, 22, was convicted of conspiracy to commit child sexual offences with Barnett.

Moore had even discussed having a baby with Barnett, from Barrow, Cumbria, for them to abuse together - although prosecutors conceded this particular 'horrific' exchange was just fantasy.

The 22-year-old was sending messages to Barnett saying she thought about sexually abusing children 'all the time' when sick exchanges between the married couple were still continuing.

Although both women were eager to please Barnett as he made increasingly disturbing suggestions, the Preston Crown Court heard he was the driving force behind the criminal activity.

Detectives were able to stop the would-be child abusers after officers were called to a domestic disturbance between, Barnett and a woman unrelated to the case.

Officers examined his phone after a tip off and the three defendants were arrested after detectives trawled through the sick messages.

All three denied the charges and argued the texts had been a 'fantasy' with no real intent to act on them.

Moore and Kevin Barnett had previously pleaded guilty to offences relating to indecent images of children.

Mrs Barnett had also pleaded guilty to possessing extreme pornography depicting sex with animals.

The defendants will next appear at Preston Crown Court for sentencing for all the offences on February 5 next year. 

Acting Detective Inspector Brian Murray, of the South Cumbria Public Protection Unit, said: 'I am pleased that justice has been served today and these three individuals will be facing prison for their crimes.

 

'Thankfully cases like this are extremely rare in Cumbria and the quick arrests of these three people once information came to light show that we are committed to protecting children in Cumbria.'