A COUPLE whose dysfunctional relationship included the long-term sexual abuse of a young girl have been jailed for a total of 15 years.

Martin Panton, 49, who first had sex with the child when she was 12 and went on to abuse her until she was 16, was locked up for ten years at Bradford Crown Court today.

His former partner, Katherine Pengilley, 54, was led weeping to the cells after she was imprisoned for five years.

Panton, formerly of Parkwood Street in Keighley, but who has since been held in custody in Leeds Prison, pleaded guilty to four charges of indecency with a child and two offences of indecent assault, dating from 17 years ago.

Bakery worker Pengilley, of Williams Road in Steeton, admitted two charges of indecently assaulting the girl when she was 13 and two charges of indecency with a child.

Prosecutor, Patricia Docherty, said Panton first had sex with the girl on a beach when she was 12. He went on to abuse her on numerous occasions until she was 16 or 17.

She alerted the police last year, saying Panton had made her feel loved at the time.

They had met up to four times a week, with him passing her off as his girlfriend when she was 16.

Pengilley indecently assaulted the girl twice on one night when she was aged 13, the court was told.

The court heard Panton and Pengilley heavily abused alcohol. Both had mental health problems and Panton had attempted suicide several times.

Judge Colin Burn said that time is not a great healer for victims of sexual abuse, coping alone over the years with what has happened to them.

"If anything, the longer time goes on, the greater the damage," he said.

Panton abused his victim on a regular basis, beginning when she was 12. Pengilley encouraged and took part in the sexual abuse of the teenager on one occasion, Judge Burn noted.