In the dock, a ‘depraved’ woman who raped a young girl smiles and laughs

A depraved woman who raped a young girl with two older men laughed and smiled in the docks as she was told she could face life in prison.

Vicki Bevan, along with Paul Raffery, 62, and a second man, Tony Hutton, 42, raped a vulnerable victim and performed sex acts on them.

According to The Liverpool Echo, the 37-year-old from St Helens appeared in Liverpool Crown Court this morning, where she was seen laughing and smiling with security guards.

The sick trio filmed their abuse and sent images and twisted messages back and forth.

Liverpool’s top judge said he was considering a “indefinite sentence,” which means she could be imprisoned for life, and that he needed written submissions on the matter from the prosecution and her defence lawyers.

According to Judge Andrew Menary, QC: “The fact that there are message exchanges involving shockingly depraved fantasies is obviously of particular concern to the court.

“And they weren’t just fantasies; some of them were played out in real life.

“I won’t go into specifics about what they are now. When you think you’ve heard it all, another one comes along. The court will be concerned with all of this.”

The judge told Bevan’s lawyer, Jonathan Duffy, that he was “bound to keep in mind the nature of the sentence in this case, particularly the possibility of an indefinite sentence.”

He stated that written submissions from Mr Duffy and prosecutor Martine Snowdon should consider Bevan’s “risk in the future and the extent to which it may be said that the underlying health or mental health issues have an impact on her culpability.”

Judge Menary did, however, add: “I’m afraid I have to say that the court is actively, as it were, considering the possibility.

Bevan of St Helens admitted one count of raping a child under the age of 13; five counts of assault on a child under the age of 13 by penetration; two counts of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13; one count of sexual activity with a child; and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity ahead of a trial earlier this year.

The rape, one count of assault on a child under 13 by penetration, and one count of sexual assault on a child under 13 were all committed in collaboration with Rafferty, of Fry Street, St Helens.

Bevan and Hutton, of Liverpool Street, St Helens, were both charged with sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, with both performing a sex act on the victim.

Bevan also pleaded guilty to 17 counts of creating and distributing indecent images of children, as well as two counts of possessing extreme pornography.

Rafferty previously admitted to one count of raping a child under the age of 13, one count of assault by penetration on a child under the age of 13, one count of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13, and six counts of making indecent images of children.

Hutton pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13 and three counts of making indecent images of children at the same time.

Rafferty and Hutton’s lawyers were asked by Judge Menary to make submissions on their “risk and dangerousness.”

The judge observed “a degree of blame sharing” in the three defendants’ interviews with the Probation Service for pre-sentence reports and asked whether this would be considered at sentence.

Hutton’s lawyer, Tom Watson, told the court that his client “takes full responsibility for his offending, despite what your Lordship may have seen in the report.”

“He will not deviate from accepting full responsibility for each of the offences to which he has pleaded guilty,” he said.

“I’m bound to say if your client suggests she was encouraged and led on by others, it would not be accepted,” Judge Menary told Mr Duffy. Bevan, according to Mr Duffy, will not propose this.

Rafferty’s attorney, Simon Christie, claimed his client did not go “quite as far” in his comments for the report. Rafferty, like Hutton, was emotionless in the dock.

Judge Menary postponed sentencing until May 13 and remanded the three defendants in custody until then.

Mr. Duffy stated that Bevan wished to be sentenced via video link if the judge permitted it, but Judge Menary stated, “Frankly, I’m not sure I will in this type of case.”

He ordered that all three defendants appear in court for sentencing. However, he stated that he would consider Mr Duffy’s written submissions on this point.

If the three paedophiles are found to be dangerous offenders, as defined by law, they could face lengthy prison sentences.

They would then have to spend at least two thirds – rather than the usual half of any custodial term – behind bars, before they could apply to the Parole Board and ask for their release.

At that stage, if they were no longer considered to be a risk, they could be released on licence, they would then have to serve an extended licence period.

However, if Bevan’s crimes are deemed to be serious enough to warrant a life sentence, she would instead be given a minimum term in prison, which she would have to serve in its entirety.

She would be able to apply for parole only after serving her minimum sentence, and if and when she was released, she would be subject to licence conditions for the rest of her life.