Mother, 29, and her boyfriend, 62, 'repeatedly raped her baby from birth until she was 18 months old'

A mother has gone on trial accused of raping her baby daughter from birth until she was 18 months old -and allowing her 62-year-old boyfriend to join in the assaults.



Melissa Bailey, 29, faces spending the rest of her life in prison if found guilty of sexual battery and other charges in Charlotte County Court, Florida this week.



The 29 year old is alleged to have raped her newborn daughter repeatedly at her home in Port Charlotte County until she was arrested in 2009.

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Accused: Melissa Bailey, left, allegedly repeatedly raped her newborn daughter and allowed her 62-year-old boyfriend Glenn Nelson, right, to do the same. She goes on trial this week



Her boyfriend, Glenn Nelson, is currently in prison after accepting a plea deal over the rape charges.

In a TV interview with NBC2 from inside the jail, Nelson admitted they had both fantasised and talked about having sex with a baby but denied harming the child.

'It's all in there all the time about fantasies,' he argued. 'Not reality that was happening. It was fantasising and talking about it.'

After their arrests, Charlotte County deputies said it was one of the worst cases they had ever investigated.



'Sick': Police found computer files of Bailey, pictured in court on Monday, discussing rapes with her boyfriend In court: Bailey rejected a plea deal to appear in court. She could spend life behind bars if found guilty

Denial: Speaking from jail after accepting a plea deal, Nelson said they only ever fantasised about the rapes

'They'd been having sex with this baby, both of them, since the child was born,' Bob Carpenter of the sheriff's office said at the time.

Investigators confiscated computers from the couple's homes and Nelson's office. Detectives said they found child pornography images and chat files between Bailey and Nelson discussing having sex with her baby over webcam, local reports noted at the time.

Jurors picked for the trial were warned they may see graphic images and videos.



Lawyers for Bailey plan to use an insanity defence, but doctors have ruled she is fit to stand trial.



Scene: The girl has been taken from her mother's home, pictured, and now lives with her father

The divorced mother faces charges of sexual battery on a person under the age of twelve, lewd and lascivious molestation, lewd and lascivious exhibition, possession of child pornography and use of child in sexual performance.

It is believed her trial will last until Thursday or Friday.

Bailey had been offered a plea deal by the state, but decided to plead not guilty and proceed with a trial. If found guilty, she faces life behind bars.

The victim, now aged four, lives with her father.

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