Bedford Couple Jailed for 35 Years for Child Abuse

A Bedford couple, Nicholas Harris (54) and Clare Buttice (41), have been sentenced to a combined 35 years in prison for sexually and mentally abusing children. Harris received a 23-year sentence, while Buttice was jailed for 12 years.

The court described the abuse as "degrading," with evidence of physical violence and exploitation for the couple's sexual gratification. Bedfordshire Police initiated an investigation after the victims came forward to report their ordeal.

The couple will be required to serve at least two-thirds of their sentence before becoming eligible for release. They must also register as sex offenders indefinitely and are prohibited from any contact with the victims.

Detective Constable Nina Bradbury, who led the investigation for Bedfordshire Police's Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) team, expressed her satisfaction with the sentence. "This was a horrific series of crimes, in which children were exploited into performing acts for the offenders' sexual gratification," she stated.

"These offences have had a significant impact on the victims, and they will carry this trauma with them for the rest of their lives. I am pleased the courts have issued such a strong custodial sentence and that this repulsive pair will spend a long time behind bars."

DC Bradbury highlighted the complexity and duration of the investigation, emphasizing Bedfordshire Police's commitment to safeguarding children. "Protecting children from this kind of sickening abuse is absolutely imperative - and work that needs our collective effort to succeed," she added. "Our specialist officers and partnership services will continue to work with and support the victims as they try to move on with their lives."

She urged the public to report any concerns about child neglect, exploitation, or abuse. "If you have concerns that a child is being neglected, exploited or abused, these concerns are too important not to share," she emphasized. "We must all play our part in protecting children."