A depraved wife helped her husband groom three teenage girls using cigarettes and alcohol so he could rape them, a jury heard.

Avril Griffiths allegedly befriended the vulnerable teens over the course of 20 years and told one 'don't worry it's not going to hurt' before Peter Griffiths raped her.

The 61-year-old woman, and her husband, 65, of Barry, South Wales, committed the heinous crimes between the 1978 and 1993 Cardiff Crown Court, heard.

Avril Griffiths allegedly befriended the vulnerable teens over the course of 20 years and told one 'don't worry it's not going to hurt' before Peter Griffiths raped her. The 61-year-old woman, and her husband, 65, of Barry, South Wales, committed the heinous crimes between the 1978 and 1993 Cardiff Crown Court, heard

The court heard the couple gave one girl vodka before forcing her to pose for indecent photos with them while they were naked.

Peter Griffiths then allegedly raped the girl and said she could not get pregnant 'because he had a vasectomy.'

Prosecutor Caroline Rees QC said the couple would also take the girl 'dogging.'

Ms Rees said: 'The male defendant would have sex with her in the back of a van while others looked on.'

The court heard the girl was passed around to other men.

Ms Rees said: 'She was used in effect as a sex toy for the gratification of others.'

The court heard the girl was also taken on a boat in the Bristol channel where she was raped by Peter Griffiths. Avril Griffiths also allegedly sexually assaulted the girl on the boat.

The girl later told police she had been 'ripped apart physically' after suffering injuries.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Peter Griffiths raped another girl, aged 13, in bed while she was 'held down' by Avril Griffiths.

The court heard Peter Griffiths encouraged a third girl to pose for topless photos when she was 14 or 15 - telling her she would make 'good money.'

Cardiff Crown Court (pictured) heard Peter Griffiths raped another girl, aged 13, in bed while she was 'held down' by Avril Griffiths. The court heard Peter Griffiths encouraged a third girl to pose for topless photos when she was 14 or 15 - telling her she would make 'good money'

She was then allegedly raped by the couple - as Avril Griffiths told her: 'Don't worry, it's not going to hurt.'

Ms Rees said: 'Both these defendants together repeatedly sexually abused three young girls.

'The defendants together exploited each of these children in order to satisfy their sexual needs.'

Peter Griffiths, of Barry pleaded not guilty to eight counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault and three counts of taking indecent photographs of a child.

Avril Griffiths, also of Barry, pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape, three counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, and two counts of indecent assault.

The trial at Cardiff Crown Court continues.