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A woman has been locked up for six and a half years after she was convicted of sexually abusing a toddler aged just three.

Miranda Parry, 42, was told by Judge David Hale, sitting at Mold Crown Court, that the victim had not understood what was going on.

"He does not understand now," said the judge.

"No one would understand why she would behave like this."

Parry, of Beech Tree Avenue at Llay near Wrexham, denied any wrongdoing during her three-day trial last month.

But she was unanimously convicted of nine charges - indecent assault, inciting the child to commit acts of gross indecency, and one of ill treatment - dating back to the early 2000s.

In addition to the prison sentence, her licence was extended by a year because she was a defendant of particular concern, the court heard.

The judge ordered her to register with the police as a sex offender for life. A lifetime sexual harm prevention order was made and a restraining order was made not to ever contact the victim, who is now an adult.

(Image: Andrew Price)

The court heard she was physically cruel to the child, making him stand in a corner and calling him names, and it moved to sexual acts.

It had unsettled him and had affected the rest of his life, the court heard.

Judge Hale said the boy complained at the time, tried to get her prosecuted when he was nine, and had eventually been able to do so.

He had years of counselling and had difficulties in relationships, the court heard.

The judge told Parry: "It has had a considerable psychological effect - a scar on his life."

In a statement, the victim said it had affected his childhood, his education and his university education.

He felt that her behaviour had stopped him in later life from doing many of the things he wanted to do, the court heard, and had even blamed himself for what happened to him.

The victim said he had tried to put it behind him and be positive for the future, but it had been very difficult.

He did not want what she had done to continue to affect his life, the court heard.

Prosecuting barrister Anna Pope said matters had previously been referred to social services and the police, but no further action had been taken at that stage.

"Throughout his childhood, he repeatedly tried to tell the authorities what happened, but the investigation was not taken any further," she said.

Ms Pope said that, when he was older, the victim went to the police and reported what had happened to him years earlier.

Henry Hills, defending, said that his client was a woman of good character and should not be treated as a dangerous offender.

At the earlier trial, the victim said there were occasions when Parry had touched him both inside and outside of his clothing.

The prosecution said Parry told the boy that such behaviour was "not unusual" and "smiled to reassure him".

Parry had given a "no comment" interview and denied that the abuse ever happened.