The mother of convicted child abuser Michelle McWilliam today insisted: "My daughter is innocent."

Joan Wilson believes McWilliam has not told the full story of the horrific abuse that went on inside her home at 72 Gardner Road, Fishersgate, Southwick.

She believes her daughter may be covering up for her husband, Simon.

The McWilliams were found guilty of cruelty at Lewes Crown Court on Monday following the death of their adoptive four-year-old son John Smith.

He died from a brain haemorrhage on Christmas Eve, 1999, and had 54 bruises and adult bite marks on his body.

Jailing them both for eight years, Judge Anthony Scott Gall said: "I regard you as equal partners in this dreadful case."

But Mrs Wilson, 55, said: "We feel she has gone to prison for something she did not do.

"We tried to get her to talk about what went on but she will not. She says she still loves Simon.

"We know Michelle. She is a very caring person and not capable of hurting a fly, let alone a child. She is guilty of nothing but loving that child."

The jury decided unanimously that Michelle, 35, and Simon, 41, were guilty of cruelty. Jurors had been told if they decided only one of the pair carried out the abuse the other was still culpable because he or she failed to intervene.

During the trial, Michelle said she had been attacked by John, causing facial bruises and a split lip but police afterwards said they suspected Simon had caused the injuries.

An inquiry report said Simon's two previous wives said he was violent and cruel to them and he once grabbed an infant round the throat. Adoption investigators did not talk to the women prior to allowing the McWilliams to adopt.

Mrs Wilson and her husband, Ron, a 57-year-old fitter-welder and Michelle's stepfather, who live near Littlehampton, said Michelle may appeal.

Mrs Wilson said: "She insists she is innocent."

McWilliam spent her first night behind bars in a cell at Brighton police station before being transported yesterday to Holloway Prison.

Mrs Wilson said she and her husband would stand by her daughter.

She said: "We love her and we will do everything we can to get her sentence reduced."

Born in Littlehampton, McWilliam went to school locally and met her husband when she was working for an electrical assembly firm.

Mrs Wilson said her daughter frequently looked after children for other couples. She was incapable of having any children but "all she ever wanted was some of her own".

Mrs Wilson said there were no problems with John when he first moved in with the McWilliams.

The Wilsons bought John a sandpit and Ron formed a special relationship with the boy as they played together. Mrs Wilson said: "John was a gorgeous little boy and we all adored him. His terrible death triggered the worst two years of our lives."

The Wilsons said social services should have investigated Simon McWilliam's background thoroughly.

Mrs Wilson said: "I had no idea there were reports of violence from his past.

"And social services should have taken action earlier when they saw injuries on John."

Judge Scott Gall had no sympathy for either of the McWilliams.

After hearing Michelle had previous convictions for shoplifting and cheque fraud, he told the couple: "You systematically set about abusing that little boy who wanted no more out of life than to be loved and to give love. You made a mockery of those wishes."