A mother and her male partner were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday for committing a number of sex crimes against the woman's two teenage daughters15:24, 27 May 2026Updated 15:39, 27 May 2026A mother and her male partner have been sentenced for committing a number of sex crimes against the woman's two teenage daughters.The woman, who cannot be named to protect the victims' identities, had two daughters who were taken into care when they were young because she was a drug addict, Leicester Crown Court heard.The woman was in a relationship with the male defendant for 10 years, and the pair had four children who were also taken into care, Leicestershire Live reports.In their later teenage years, the woman's two daughters began having more contact with their mother.In 2022, the elder of the woman’s two daughters, then aged 16, visited her mother’s home in central Leicester.The girl was sitting on the sofa watching the film Suicide Squad with her mother and the man when the mother undressed herself and the man touched himself and tried to make the girl sexually touch her mother.The mother was charged with inciting a child to engage in sexual activity in relation to that incident.In May last year, the younger victim was reconnecting with her estranged mother when the offences against her were committed.The girl, who was 18 at the time, was visiting her mother, who went out onto the balcony to smoke cannabis, leaving the teenager alone with the man.He first hugged her and then kissed her on the lips before sexually assaulting her. He later sexually assaulted her again.For those offences, the man was charged with assault by penetration, sexual touching and two counts of sexual assault.Both the man and the woman were also charged with intimidation of a victim of crime over voice messages sent to one of the girls, urging her not to support the prosecution.The couple denied all the charges. The mother did not attend her trial. They were found guilty by a jury, and the woman later pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.They appeared at Leicester Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday.In victim impact statements read to the court, both girls blamed their mother for the offences against them.One said: "I once felt comfortable and confident in my skin but I no longer recognise that person."I feel totally and utterly betrayed by my mum. She let me down in the worst possible way."Her sister said: "I saw [the male defendant] as a father figure and I feel used by both him and mum."I fear if they're released they may come after me. I worry about violence from them. I feel vulnerable, isolated and deeply affected."I don't believe I'll ever be the same person I was before this happened."James Varley, representing the male defendant, who had numerous previous convictions including a burglary that led to him being jailed, said there was no personal mitigation that would improve his client's position.‌Gary Short, representing the mother, said his client had been abused in her own childhood.He said: "She was fragile. Such was her weakness she couldn't even come to the trial. It's the psychological impact of what has happened to her since her childhood."He said his client blamed her partner for her part in the offending.‌Mr Short said: "This was all his idea and it was under his instruction."He said his client did not verbally incite her 16-year-old daughter to sexually touch her but did encourage it through her actions.Judge Keith Raynor sentenced the man to five years and one month in prison.Article continues belowThe woman was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 12 months of drug rehab, 15 further days on courses to prevent re-offending and a £187 victim surcharge.The mother wept in the dock as she was sentenced and told the judge she would complete the rehab and get off drugs.