Description
Claire Semmens gave the boy to Aaron Hughes who filmed the rapes on his mobile phone so he could watch them on his computer.
A babysitter has been jailed for 16 years for giving a three-year-old boy to a known paedophile who drugged and raped him as he slept.
Claire Semmens, 28, handed the little boy to depraved Aaron Hughes, who was jailed for life for the sex attacks on the sedated toddler.
Hughes, 32, filmed the rapes on his mobile phone so he could watch them over and over again on his computer.
He was caught when police did a routine check on his computer because they believed he had breached a court order by downloading child pornography.
The court heard horrified officers found Hughes had filmed himself raping a child twice at the home of Semmens while she was babysitting children.
Both attacks were on the same three-year-old and Hughes claimed they happened on the same night.
But police checked the videos and spotted the little boy was wearing different pyjamas and that Hughes had a different ring on his finger.
Prosecutor Laurence Jones said: "The rapes were carried out at separate times - but both were on the same boy and they happened in Semmens' bedroom.
"Semmens not only supplied the boy but provided a room which enabled Hughes to commit the act and film it in a relatively safe haven.
"By her own admission Semmens knew Hughes was a child sex offender who was banned from having any contact with children.
"But she was trying to satisfy Hughes's perversions for young male children."
The court heard Semmens was sexually attracted to Hughes's gay lover and the three had become close friends.
Hughes had a previous conviction for raping a six-year-old boy and Semmens hoped that by providing children to Hughes it would clear the way for her to have a relationship with his lover.
Mr Jones said: "Aaron Hughes had to be kept happy so she would supply him with a young boy.
"She had the opportunity to do this because she was a babysitter, regularly looking after boys aged between three and six."
The court heard Hughes and his lover moved into a flat in Roath, Cardiff, next door to where Semmens provided a regular babysitting service.
But it wasn't until police raided Hughes's home that they discovered he was preying on one of the little boys staying next door - with Semmens' consent.
Mr Jones said: "When Hughes was interviewed by police he admitted sedating the three-year-old boy before raping him.
"In the video clip you can see the little boys' eyes are closed.
"Hughes told police the rapes happened on the same night but the boy is wearing a different set of pyjamas and Hughes is wearing different jewellery.
"Claire Semmens had also developed a taste for child pornography herself and images were found on her laptop computer."
The court heard police also found computer images of the bare bottoms of two other boys babysat by Semmens.
Hughes and Semmens disappeared when they realised the images found on their computers would send them to jail.
The pair pawned their jewellery and took a train to Gatwick Airport fleeing in such a hurry Semmens' pet hamsters were left to die of starvation.
When they were arrested Hughes told police he suffered from a multiple personality disorder and he was not responsible for raping the little boy.
Semmens and Hughes sat stony-faced in the dock at Cardiff Crown Court with a prison officer sitting between them.
Semmens, of Roath, Cardiff, admitted two charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and possessing indecent images.
She was jailed for 16 years and barred from ever working with children again and must sign on the sex offenders register for life.
Hughes, of Roath, admitted two charges of rape, possessing indecent images and breaching the terms of his sex offenders prevention order.
He was jailed for life and told he would not be considered for parole until he served 12 years in prison.
Hughes will be on license for life and barred from ever working with children and must sign on to the sex offenders register for life.
Judge Phillip Richards told the pair: "These were genuinely horrendous offences which include the rape of a young child who was three years old.
"It almost defies belief that any human being would do such a thing to such an innocent young child.
"You, Semmens, made that child available not once but twice to your paedophile friend and permitted him to carry out his vile activities with that young child in your bedroom.
"You knew full well he was a child abuser and the level of breach of trust is probably worse than Hughes.
"Each of you are going to spend a long time in prison before you see the light of day."