A three-year-old malnourished girl was bound with duct tape, kept in a bin bag and offered for sex by a man babysitting her, according to police in Mesa, Arizona.

Police say the girl had duct tape around her mouth, hands, arms and legs, and was "covered in faeces". She had multiple bruises, scratchers and blisters on her body. There were also indications she had been sexually abused

According to ABC, thepolice arrested Francisco Rios Covarrubias, 30, on suspicion of sex trafficking and other crimes, while the girl's 22-year-old mother was arrested on suspicion of child abuse.

The mother told police she had "no knowledge of the sexual activity" which allegedly occured at the apartment, however she said she shaved the girl's hair to get money by claiming she had cancer.

The child was reported to police by a man who had met Covarrubias online and arranged to have sex with him. He claimed Covarrubias asked him if he wanted to have sex with the child.

When police entered the apartment, they found the child in a cupboard, wrapped in a black bin bag, with only the top of her head exposed.

Police said she was kept in the cupboard and left alone for long periods of time.