Paedophiles grooming their partners to have children as a 'fast track' to victims

A third of families which contacted a charity for victims of sexual abuse said they were manipulated by their partners

A couple attend an ante natal class together (REX/Monkey Business Images)

Paedophiles are grooming their partners into having children as a “fast-track” to victims, according to a charity working with families affected by sexual abuse.

The figures come as the child abuse charity Mosac continues to lobby the government to seal a legal loophole which allows parents who have abused their child to be consulted over certain aspects of their lives.

Mosac was formed by four mothers whose children were abused and works with non-abusing parents and carers of children who have been sexually abused. A third, or 240 of 800 callers to the charity, believe their partners targeted them as a means to access to children, according to its research - amid fears the figure could be much higher.

“We’ve been collecting and analysing our research and stats for the past decade and believe the actual figure is probably much higher,” warned Nigel Newton Sawyerr, Mosac’s Operations Director.

“These offenders have found a way to get easy access to child victims who are, shockingly, being bred for purpose," he added.

A woman identified as 'Susan' who spoke to the Mirror said her ex-partner persuaded her to stop using the contraceptive pill.

“When my youngest daughter turned round and said to me that he had abused her from the moment she could remember ... when she was in nappies ... that's when I was convinced that [he had her] to abuse her,” she said.

Her ex-partner was handed a five-year prison sentence for abusing her eldest daughter from a previous relationship. She is currently in a court battle to stop him from having access to their child when he is released.

Mosca's now hopes to change Parental Responsibility laws which allow an abusing parent to become involved when a child needs to switch schools, change their surname or make a passport application – even if they are in prison.

Parents guilty of abuse can also apply for access to their child. While the courts generally refuse such requests, the charity argues that the process is traumatic for the victim as they must meet social workers to discuss the idea.

Jon Brown, NSPCC head of tackling sexual abuse told the Mirror that sex offenders can use “extremely sophisticated” methods to target victims.

“This can involve a high degree of planning, premeditation and grooming,” he said.

“It is sadly not surprising some offenders will target women to have children with the intention of abusing those children when they get to the offender’s preferred age range," he added.