���˿���

A man and woman exchanged hundreds of "vile" messages about young girls, a court heard.

Indecent images of children aged between four and 13 were found on convicted sex offender Colin Dawson’s laptop and phones after they were seized by police.

In court, Annette Punter, 65, from Wolverhampton pleaded guilty to being in possession of extreme pornography and was given a 20-month prison term, suspended for two years.

Dawson, 61, also of Wolverhampton, admitted making indecent images of children and was jailed for two years and four months.

Investigators had identified Dawson's home as being linked to online chats referring to child abuse.

Following her arrest Punter told detectives she was manipulated by Dawson, who police said she was in a relationship with at the time.

Both pleaded guilty to conspiring to take indecent images of children between 9 and 19 November 2018.

Dawson, of Merridale, also admitted making 44 indecent images on various dates between 4 November 2018 and 7 July 2020.

Punter, of East Park, admitted a further charge of taking and distributing indecent images of children between 2 and 5 November 2018.

Dawson will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life and Punter will be on it for 10 years.

Follow ���˿��� West Midlands on , , and . Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk