A MARRIED couple repeatedly sexually abused young children and treated them in a cruel way, a court heard.

It was also alleged that police found child porn on Steven and Amelia Coleman’s computer at their home in Bredgar Close, Stanhope, Ashford.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that the 41-year-old husband raped the children. His wife, 29, behaved indecently with one of them.

Johanna Cutts, prosecuting, said the couple mistreated children and engaged in sexual activity.

Miss Cutts said Amelia Coleman appeared to be frightened of her husband and refused to make a police statement. One child claimed that Steven Coleman put tape on their eyes and mouth.

On one occasion Coleman put hot water into a paddling pool and dangled a child into it. The child was treated in hospital.

When police searched the house, they found more than 100 obscene films.

Miss Cutts said the files had been deleted from the couple’s computer and it had been reformatted.

“He knew it was only a matter of time before police would be at his home,” she said. “The last thing he wanted them to find was indecent images on the hard drive.

“We say they were knowingly in possession of child pornography. CDs were also examined. One contained a short movie of indecent images of children. Steven Coleman denied downloading any child pornography.”

Miss Cutts said Coleman raped and indecently assaulted one of the children on many occasions. He raped another several times.

“The issue is whether these incidents happened,” she told the jury. “Their interest in child pornography goes to show they had a sexual interest in children in general.”

The couple deny three charges of child cruelty and four charges of possessing indecent photographs of children.

Steven Coleman denies four charges of rape of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child. His wife denies indecent assault and indecency with a child.

The trial continues.