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Mum accused of murdering children 'tried to sell sex as daughter lay in hospital’

Louise Porton in the dock at Birmingham Crown Court, June 26, 2019. A mum  will go on trial at Birmingham Crown Court today, June 26, 2019, after she denied murdering her two young daughters within three weeks of each other.  See SWNS story SWMDmurder.  Louise Porton, 23, is accused of killing three-year-old Lexi Draper and 16-month-old Scarlett Vaughan last year.  Porton, will stand trial today June 25 after pleading not guilty to two charges of murder.  The court heard she allegedly murdered Lexi on January 15 2018 and Scarlett on February 1 2018.
Louise Porton is accused of killing daughters three-year-old Lexi Draper and 16-month-old Scarlett Vaughan last year (Picture: SWNS)

A mother accused of murdering her two children offered a photographer sex in exchange for money while her daughter was seriously ill in hospital, a court has heard.

Part-time model Louise Porton, 23, is charged with killing Lexi Draper, three, and 16-month old Scarlett Vaughan, by "deliberately interfering with their breathing."

Lexi was found unconscious at her home in Skiddaw, Rugby, Warwickshire in the early hours of January 15 last year and later died in hospital.

Her younger sister Scarlett died after falling ill 18 days later on February 1.

Family members of Louise Porton leave Warwickshire Justice Centre, Leamington Spa.  January 26, 2019.  A mother has appeared in court charged with murdering her two young daughters who died weeks apart.  See SWNS story SWMDmurder.  Louise Porton, 22, is accused of killing three-year-old Lexi Draper and 16-month old Scarlett Vaughan.  Lexi was found dead at home in the early hours of January 15 last year after reports she was unconscious.  A fortnight later on February 1, her little sister Scarlett died after reportedly falling ill at home.  Porton, of Skiddaw, Rugby, Warks., appeared at Leamington Spa Magistrates' Court on Saturday (26/1) charged with two counts of murder.  Wearing a white cardigan and grey bottoms, Porton spoke only to confirm her name, date-of-birth and address, during the two-minute hearing.  She was remanded into custody and will appear via video link for her next appearance at Warwick Crown Court on Tuesday (29/1).
Louise Porton's relatives leave Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington Spa where she appeared in court charged with murdering her two young daughters who died weeks apart (Picture: SWNS)

Birmingham Crown Court has heard that Porton murdered the children after they became a "burden" to her.

On Tuesday, she admitted offering men sex in exchange for money when she was low on cash.

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On one occasion, she also agreed to engage in sexual activity with a photographer named Mark and sent him explicit pictures while Lexi was in hospital.

Porton said she would accept money in exchange for sending him saucy snaps and had asked for payment because she had not received her benefits.

She also exchanged a series of messages with a hospital security guard she met while Lexi was in hospital.

GV of Warwickshire Justice Centre, Leamington Spa.  January 26, 2019.  A mother has appeared in court charged with murdering her two young daughters who died weeks apart.  See SWNS story SWMDmurder.  Louise Porton, 22, is accused of killing three-year-old Lexi Draper and 16-month old Scarlett Vaughan.  Lexi was found dead at home in the early hours of January 15 last year after reports she was unconscious.  A fortnight later on February 1, her little sister Scarlett died after reportedly falling ill at home.  Porton, of Skiddaw, Rugby, Warks., appeared at Leamington Spa Magistrates' Court on Saturday (26/1) charged with two counts of murder.  Wearing a white cardigan and grey bottoms, Porton spoke only to confirm her name, date-of-birth and address, during the two-minute hearing.  She was remanded into custody and will appear via video link for her next appearance at Warwick Crown Court on Tuesday (29/1).
Porton is accused of killing daughters three-year-old Lexi Draper and 16-month old Scarlett Vaughan (Picture: SWNS)

Giving evidence, Porton told jurors: "I was having pictures taken of me. I would do that a few times a month. It was paid work.

"I also sold the photos through my phone. It was done by myself. I made those arrangements through an online site.

"I would use PurplePort [modelling website]. I would be paid for the pictures I sent on my phone.”

Porton said she would use dating website Badoo to chat to people and on the morning of January 5 was messaging a photographer called Mark.

"I was asking him to send me money whilst I was in hospital,” she said. “I was asking for the money because I hadn't been paid at the time from universal credit.

"I said to him I would send him an indecent image of me, I would usually be paid for that.

"I had agreed with him to engage in sexual activity during the photo-shoot in exchange for money whilst I was in hospital with Lexi.”

She said she also exchanged a series of messages with a hospital security guard called Richard.

Porton denied being responsible for the deaths and told the jury how she loved both her children and did not regret having them.

She admitted smacking Lexi on several occasions when she misbehaved but said: "I was the single parent of Scarlett and Lexi. They were funny, always making me laugh, I tried to give them what ever they wanted.

"It wasn't the easiest things to do being a parent, but I could cope with it. I did not regret having either of my children. I loved Lexi and I loved Scarlett.

"I wouldn't swear at my children. I wasn't verbally aggressive or physically violent towards them.”

She also admitted leaving her children alone while she went to the shop several times a week saying: “I would be away for no more than four or five minutes.

"I did that two or three times a week. There was no issues as far as I was concerned."

Porton said she first took Lexi to hospital after she had a fit on January 2, 2018 and denied waiting for 10 minutes before calling 999 when she suffered another seizure.

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