A SCHOOLGIRL was persuaded to take part in a three-in-a-bed sex session with a couple at a house in Kidderminster, a jury was told.

Afterwards, as Susan Morris made coffee downstairs, Christopher Howley made the child, who was aged 11 or 12, perform sex acts on him, it was alleged.

Howley twice raped the girl while Morris aided and abetted the attacks, Malcolm Parkes, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court.

He claimed Howley also raped another schoolgirl, molested her and used a drug to enable him to commit a sex act on her.

Howley, aged 48, formerly of Leawood Grove, Kidderminster, denies three rapes, four indecent assaults, three counts of indecency with a child, administering a drug to stupify or overpower a child and taking indecent photographs of a child.

Morris, 47, of Doverdale Avenue, Willenhall, West Midlands, denies two counts of aiding and abetting rape and two of aiding and abetting indecent assault.

The offences on the two victims, who were not related, happened between 1986 and 1993, the court heard.

The first victim was aged 10 when Howley - now living in Grace Court, Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire - began touching her.

When she later acquired a boyfriend, Howley's behaviour became "more disturbing" and he began playing a pornographic video showing a woman performing sex acts, said Mr Parkes.

He alleged Howley then twice put a wad soaked with ether over the girl's mouth. She was tied up the second time and only allowed to go free when she agreed to be filmed having sex with him. She was 14 at the time.

Howley had a fantasy about three-in-a-bed sex, said Mr Parkes, and put it into operation in the Kidderminster house with the second girl.

He allegedly showed the victim a similar pornographic video before she agreed to the session with him and Morris. The acts included oral sex but not full sex, said Mr Parkes.

He claimed all three then had a bath together.

The last indecent assault took place in a caravan in Wales, he added. Howley was said to have fondled the girl's breasts and given her money to keep her quiet.

In January this year, when she knew complaints were going to be made to police, Morris went to a hotel in Wolverhampton and took an overdose, the jury heard.

The defendants insist they never behaved improperly and the complaints were invented.

The trial continues.