A NEWCASTLE couple who committed a litany of child sex offences have appeared in court.
Gary and Heather Talbot, who are both in custody, will be sentenced at Downpatrick Crown Court next month.
In February Gary Talbot (59), whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, admitted 15 charges, including two counts of rape, two counts of gross indecency, a further two counts of indecent assault and six counts of taking indecent photos of a child on dates between January 2001 and October 2003.
He also admitted three charges of distributing indecent photos of a child in May 2011.
At Downpatrick Crown Court yesterday, Gary Talbot admitted a further charge of sexually assaulting a female between July 2012 and July 2014.
At the same court last Wednesday Heather Talbot (59), whose address was given as HMP Hydebank, admitted a total of ten charges.
They included two counts of aiding and abetting her husband in raping a child, two counts of gross indecency, two counts of indecent assault and four counts of taking indecent photos of a child.
She had previously denied all the charges, but as they were read out she replied “guilty” to each of them in a barely audible voice.
The couple appeared together in the dock separated by a prison officer. Gary Talbot, who was wearing glasses, was dressed in a blue shirt and tie with grey trousers. His blonde wife, who was also wearing glasses, was dressed in a white top, black cardigan and black trousers.
The couple have been on remand at Maghaberry and Hydebank since February 2018.
Judge Piers Grant ordered pre-sentence reports ahead of sentencing on June 4.
The couple, who have been placed on the sex offenders register, were remanded back in custody.