A woman who, along with her ex-husband, forced two children to participate in the rape of a one-year-old girl during a catalog of abuse has been sentenced to ten years in prison.

Samantha Crawford, 33, and her then-partner Michael Cummins, 35, forced the boys, who were aged seven and three, to take part in the attacks on the child.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the pair subjected both the boy and the girl to repeated serious sexual and physical assaults over a four-year period starting in 2014. They also abused a fourth child.

The court heard how the attacks took place at locations across Fife.

The pair, both from Kirkcaldy, stopped the children from telling anyone what had happened.

They both went on trial earlier this year before Lord Justice Harrower, where they denied any wrongdoing against the children. Sentencing had been adjourned for the judge to obtain background reports.

On Wednesday, Crawford and Cummins reappeared in court to be sentenced.

Crawford was ordered to serve ten years in prison, while Cummins was told he would serve 14 years in prison.

The pair were also told they would be supervised for years after their release – Crawford for three years and Cummins for four years.

Passing sentence, Lord Harrower said: “Your offending must be classed as extreme. The impact of your offense on these children will be devastating.

“You accept no responsibility and none of you have shown any remorse for your actions.”

Jurors returned guilty verdicts against the pair who claimed they were innocent of any wrongdoing against the children, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

They spent a week and a half listening to evidence detailing the impact the attacks had on children.

Judge Lord Harrower jailed Cummins and Crawford.

He told jurors they would be eligible for counseling if they wanted to talk to someone about their ordeal.

Records on the ScotlandsPeople website show that Cummins and Crawford married in Kirkcaldy in 2011 and divorced in 2022.

The court heard evidence of how Cummins and Crawford targeted their first victim, a boy when he was seven. Cummins raped and physically assaulted this child.

Cummins also sexually and physically assaulted this child.

Their second victim was a three-year-old child who was hit repeatedly on the head and body with a belt by Cummins – Crawford repeatedly hit him on the head and body with his hand. He was also sexually assaulted by Cummins.

The third victim was a little girl who was only one year old.

The court heard how the little girl was subjected to rape on “various occasions”.

The pair also sexually and physically abused a fourth boy – he was born earlier in 2014.

During proceedings, the jury heard evidence about how doctors who examined the victims concluded their injuries were caused by “traumatic” force.

When prosecutor Erin Campbell asked Cummins, who testified, about his thoughts on this medical evidence, he replied, “That’s their opinion.”

Crawford’s barrister, Jonathan Crowe, told Lord Harrower that she still maintained her innocence.

Lord Harrower also placed the pair on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

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