A sadistic man who starved his 10-year-old stepdaughter, often only giving her POTATO PEELINGS to eat was jailed for three years yesterday.
The child’s mother who allowed the abuse to happen was also given a 15-month suspended prison sentence.
On April 7 2014, the 32-year-old man admitted causing a child to suffer serious physical harm. His partner and the child’s 30-year-old mother also admitted allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm.
Almost a year previous, on the evening of April 23 2013, an ambulance was called after the 10-year-old child was found collapsed and unresponsive on the bathroom floor of her then Rochdale home.
She was later taken to Royal Oldham Hospital where medics found that she was severely malnourished, had gross nutritional deficiencies and a distended abdomen – a sign of a child who has not been fed.
The young victim told police how she had stopped being regularly fed. Her siblings also confirmed that she would be fed raw potato peelings and would not be allowed to eat with the rest of the family.
Photographs that were taken of a room believed to be the girl’s showed that she had no clothes or possessions, despite there being toys and electrical equipment for other children at the address.
Shortly after being admitted to hospital, the girl also disclosed that her mother said that if she did not tell anyone about her home life, then it would not happen again.
Her mother went on to promise the girl that she would get fed every day and would even be given ‘pudding and custard’.
Detective Inspector Caroline Ward, said: “This is a tragic case and, had the abuse continued much longer, there is a very real possibility it could have cost this young girl her life.
“To knowingly inflict such abuse on a young, innocent and vulnerable child defies belief and goes against the very basic instincts of human nature.
DI Ward also praised the little girl for her determined spirit. She added: “She is now in a loving, caring and nurturing environment, but the abuse she has suffered will most likely stay with her for the rest of her life.”
Rochdale children’s services have since put structured safeguarding measures in place around the young girl which has helped her make a remarkable recovery.
Image courtesy of Theilr, with thanks.
