A WOMAN who committed sex acts in the presence of a young child has been jailed for more than two years.

A court heard how Claudia Marques was filmed on a mobile phone stripping and performing a sex act on a man while the boy was sitting on a settee nearby.

She was later stopped at Manchester Airport as she attempted to take the child to Portugal via Amsterdam.

The 25-year-old, formerly of Audley Range, Blackburn, appeared for sentencing at Preston Crown Court after admitting a charge of sexual activity in the presence of a child, child cruelty and attempted child abduction.

The court was told that Marques had used the name Patricia Santos for most of her time in the Uk and claimed that she was an Angolan asylum seeker, when in fact she is a Portuguese national.

She formed a relationship with a man, Yasser Ghalib, 26, of Shearwood Road, Blackburn.

There is now a warrant out for his arrest after he failed to answer charges of neglect, and section 20 wounding of a child, the court was told.

The court heard that mobile phone footage involved her and a man in sexual activity where it was apparent the boy was on a settee, watching what was taking place.

The defendant was said to be shown stripping on film before she performed a sex act on a man. It was apparent that she was aware the boy could see what was going on.

The attempted abduction had been "carefully planned," said Judge Philip Sycamore. Marques had a taxi waiting outside her home and the vehicle was carrying her luggage. Tickets had been pre-booked.

The child cruelty charge involved police finding the boy in a distressed state, the court was told.

The court heard that Marques, who has been served with a notice of deportation, knew that she would receive a prison sentence.

Andrew Alty, defending, said: "It was forcefully suggested to her by the man that she involve herself with him. She was impressionable and overwhelmed at the time.

"She had come under a malign influence from a rather unpleasant individual."

Marques, who had spent over 300 days on remand in custody, was told she would be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

The judge told her: "Children must be protected. Sentences of these courts, in punishing offenders, must make clear that those who abuse young children in any way can only expect to receive severe sentences."