By Ashley Pemberton

A married couple who drugged and sexually abused two young girls have been jailed.

Claire Moores, 46, and husband Craig, 51, plied with the girls substances before sexually abusing them.

A third girl was exposed to the presence and consumption of controlled drugs and sexual activity, Greater Manchester Police said.

Claire Moores was jailed on Tuesday 13 June for 13 years while her husband was sentenced 15 years at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

The couple were found guilty after a trial of 15 charges, including a number of child sex offences against the two girls between 2002 and 2008.

The Stockport couple were arrested and charged on August 2020.

Police say they were told in May 2019 of non-recent sexual offences concerning two girls in Stockport.

The court heard how two girls, who can't be named for legal reasons, reported being given substances prior to being sexually abused by the 'abhorrent' couple.

Craig Moores was charged with four counts of indecent assault, two counts of sexual activity and one count of indecency by penetration, all on a child under 18.

Claire Moores was charged with three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 18.

They were jointly charged with sexual activity with a child, indecent assault on a girl under 18 and two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

They were charged with one count of cruelty to a person under the age of 16 against a third victim.

Speaking after sentencing, Detective Sergeant Shona Mulvey, said: "Claire and Craig Moores' crimes are truly abhorrent and today marks the culmination of many years' worth of investigation.

"While their sentencings cannot take away from the years of suffering they have caused their victims, we hope it provides some solace in the fact that they are no longer at large and able to harm children.

"I must thank the victim and their family for having the strength and courage to come forward and allow us to fully investigate this case."