Jury out in 'baby rape plot' trial

During the trial at Bristol Crown Court, the jury heard that some preyed on the families of the youngsters they targeted – sometimes offering to babysit their victims.

Others would travel long distances to carry out the attacks together or watch from afar via the internet using high-tech video conferencing software.

During the trial prosecutor Robert Davies said five of the gang – Robin Hollyson, 30; Christopher Knight, 35; Adam Toms, 33; David Harsley, 51, and Matthew Lisk, 32 – have pleaded guilty to a range of offences, including rape of a child and conspiracy to rape a child during 2013 and 2014.

Denham, who was previously known as Benjamin Harrop, of Wiltshire denies a charge of conspiracy to rape a child under the age of 13 and the alternative of conspiracy to sexually assault a child under the age of 13.

He has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child and child pornography offences.

Stansfield, of Hampshire, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to rape a child under 13 and one alternative charge of conspiracy to sexually assault a child under the age of 13. He has also pleaded guilty to child pornography offences.

Prosecutor Robert Davies said the evidence against Stansfield and Denham centred on videos, photographs and chat logs recovered from computers and mobile phones.

“They accept their involvement in the Skype chat but essentially say it was just fantasy and nothing more and the prosecution say that was plainly untrue,” he said.

“We suggest that plans to rape the boy were very real and indeed it happened. Those two knew that in encouraging it, it was likely that someone would commit this type of thing.

“If not them, then this abuse would be broadcast to others by conferencing networks or Skype.

“Part of the excitement and titillation for some of them was watching a baby being abused – that did it for them.”

Giving evidence during the trial the defendants described themselves as fantasists.

Denham, a father of two and former actor, told the court: “I know for me it was a fantasy and it was always like trying to outdo one another.

“The words are horrific but they are very much for me about fantasy and living out the fantasy going on in my head and living out the fantasy I was having with other people.

“I know now there are real victims in it but it didn’t seem real – it wasn’t reality for me at that time.”

Stansfield, who runs his own business, said: “Thinking and doing are two separate things. My sexual gratification comes from talking to others about private and taboo subjects.

“I am trying to put in to place a fantasy plan that I am never going to carry out. It was not me that had taken part in that sexual abuse.

“I personally didn’t want to overstep the boundary of contact abuse with a baby.”

Summing up the eight-day trial, Judge Julian Lambert told the jury of eight men and four women: “The prosecution must prove that any defendant is guilty.

“The defendants do not have to prove their innocence at any stage – the defence do not have to prove anything at all.

“The prosecution have to make you sure of the defendants’ guilt – nothing less will do.

“You must consider each count separately and each defendant separately.”

Judge Lambert also explained to the jury the law on conspiracy and said for the jury to convict they had to be satisfied beyond just talking about committing an offence.

“You must be sure there is an agreement by each defendant and there is an opportunity to carry it out,” he said.