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A sick mum has been jailed for having sex with her 12-year-old son - while her depraved partner watched from abroad on a webcam.

The 39-year-old mum wore headphones so her controlling lover could direct her as she abused the boy in their bedroom.

The traumatised victim told police he could hear his mum being told what to do as she gave him a "sex lesson".

The sickening offence came to light when the mum made a complaint about her partner to a domestic abuse charity - and "blurted out" that she had abused the eldest of her two sons.

The court heard her "highly destructive" partner had so far escaped justice.

The mum, who cannot be named to protect her son, was jailed for three years and three months at Bristol Crown Court.

Passing sentence, judge Michael Longman told her: "Your behaviour towards your son was contrary to human instincts and basic decency.

"It occurred after you met a man who clearly was controlling and over-bearing - a man who, it is also clear, should be prosecuted himself but is outside the jurisdiction and beyond the reach of this investigation.

"Even though he was at a distance from you, he continued to exert that influence.

"But you continued to behave towards your son in a way which, despite that pressure, your own instincts should have prevented."

The court heard the boy was just 11 or 12 when the sordid incident took place at the family home in Bristol.

It came to light when the mum made a complaint about her partner to Next Link Domestic Abuse Services in the city.

Police were called to quiz the mum and interview her son.

Prosecutor Mark Hollier told Monday's hearing: "In a very ordinary voice, he described an incident to the police officers about how his mother had given him a sex lesson in the main bedroom of the family home and this was observed by [the partner] via a webcam and computer link."

The mum - who cried through much of the hearing - denied "volunteering" to have sex with her son.

But she admitted a charge of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy under 13.

Her two sons have since been taken into care by social services and are now living with a foster family.

The court heard the mum's abusive partner is still abroad but police are liaising with officials overseas to bring him to justice.

Defence lawyer Fiona Elder said it was an "extremely unusual" case and the mum was acting on instructions from her "highly destructive" partner.

She added: "She's absolutely devastated by the loss of the children and what she has done."

A psychiatric report found the mum had a personality disorder which made her susceptible to being in abusive relationships and becoming dependent on abusive partners.