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The adoptive parents of two young sisters refused to help them when they said they were being abused by a pair of paedophiles, a court has heard.

Colin Molloy and Sam Nelson raped and sexually assaulted their two young victims. They pleaded guilty last year.

Now the girls' adoptive parents, from Sale, Greater Manchester are charged with child neglect for allegedly not coming to their daughters' aid.

The pair are on trial at Manchester Minshull Crown Court.

The 54 and 55-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, deny charges of child neglect for failing to protect the sisters, now aged 10 and 16.

'Rude stuff'

When the abuse began, the court heard, one was only seven and the other 13.

They were abused by Molloy and Nelson, who were friends of the family and referred to as their "uncles".

The jury was played video police interviews of the youngest girl, who initially raised the alarm by telling her teacher last January.

She said Nelson had been "doing rude stuff to her" at his flat as he minded her after school while both parents were at work.

"I kept on trying to push him away but he kept on doing it," she told officers.

When she returned home she told her parents she had been assaulted and was sore.

"My dad said if he is hurting you then don't go down there, but I said if no-one is in (at home) then I have no choice," she said.

'Money and car'

Molloy also raped her under her own roof.

In opening the case, Michael Lavery, prosecuting, said the elder sister had confronted her mother about the abuse but was told they could not do anything because the men had "helped them with money and a car".

The oldest daughter has also accused her adoptive father of sexually abusing her over a six-year period.

He denies charges of indecent assault and indecency with a child.

Last April, Nelson, 43, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with both girls and assault by penetration against the younger sister between September 2007 and January last year.

A month later Molloy, 46, admitted nine counts of rape against the younger girl between November 2007 and January 2008.

The trial continues.