A MAN and a woman have been charged with a string of sex offences against children in Basildon.

The pair are accused of grooming the youngsters on Facebook, meeting them at various locations in Pitsea, before raping and sexually assaulting them.

Grant Francis, 28, and Hayley Morgan, 20, have been charged after a complex investigation by Essex Police’s online investigation team.

Francis, of St James Road, Vange, is charged with one count of rape, one count of attempted rape and two counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He is also charged with three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13, two counts of engaging in other sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15, two counts of sexually assaulting a girl under 13 and one count of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Francis is further charged with one count of sexually assaulting a female aged 13, two counts of sexual assault and three counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child.

His co-accused, Morgan, 20, of Longmead, Pitsea, was charged with two counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13, one count of sexual assault, one count of making an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child, one count of taking an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child and ten counts of distributing an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child.

Both have been released on police bail to appear at Basildon Magistrates Court on January 29.

Essex Police has been working with Essex County Council’s safeguarding team to ensure the welfare of the victims.

Anyone with concerns or who has information they wish to pass to police should contact Det Con Jenna McQueen in the police online investigation team on 101.