couple lock up babies and go for a curry
Couple lock up babies to go out for a curry (mirror uk)
Jail for couple who locked up babies so they could go for a curry
Exclusive by Lucy Thornton
A couple who locked their toddler and two babies in a bedroom while they went for a curry were given jail terms.
The two girls and a boy - aged three, 19 months and eight months - were kept prisoner for nearly five hours with a cord tied from the doorknob to the banisters. The mum admitted later it was to stop them "wandering through the house" if they woke.
Shocked police found the tots after being called to an Indian restaurant 10 miles away in the early hours - and becoming suspicious as they gave the couple a lift home.
The pair - who cannot be named for legal reasons - went out at 9.15pm.
But it was 2.15am before two plainclothes officers were called because they were having trouble paying with their chip and pin card.
After the problem was sorted out the officers spotted them trying to hail a taxi - and offered the lift thinking they had no money.
But when they got near the house in Huddersfield, West Yorks, they "were reluctant to be taken directly to the address", prosecutor Jonathon Gibson said. Because of the restaurant incident the officers wanted to know where they lived. They managed to get into the house and found the children. The mother at first said her sister had been left to look after them and must have gone home early. But later she admitted leaving them.
Mr Gibson told Bradford crown court that the house was very bare, with little furniture, and unkempt. He added: "The children were dirty, although they did appear to be well nourished." The couple pleaded guilty earlier this year to neglect.
The father was jailed for six months.
Now the mother - who has moved to the Midlands and is looking after the children again - has also been given six months, suspended for 18 months and with 18 months’ supervision.
Her lawyer Neil Clark told the court it was a one-off when she was subject to the "unpleasant influence" of her husband.
Judge Stephen Gullick told her it was a gross breach of duty of care. He added: "The children could have been subjected to burglars or just been distressed or - perish the thought - something might have caught fire."
Det Chief Insp Steve Hopwood said later: "The officers detected a crime while initially performing a good deed for people in distress."
AGE LIMIT
Kids can be left alone legally at any age but not if it puts them at risk of danger.
NSPCC SAYS
Babies should not be on their own, under 13s only for short time, under 16s never overnight.
BABYSITTING
Charities recommend using registered babysitters who are over 16 and have two references.
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On 3rd Apr 2008 at 12:43 PM DILL said...
Why has this couple been prosecuted and the father imprisoned for six months and the mother and her children put into monitored accomodation when they left their young children home alone when the McCanns have not been prosecuted for the same crime and their daughter is now missing? The only difference between the two situations is one family were ordinary people and it happened on UK soil and the McCanns were upper-middle class- with contacts the other family did not have fighting for them and happened on European soil? Why is there one rule for the McCanns and another rule for those with ordinary lives here in the UK? This social devide between classes is making mockery of the law by having one rule for one and another law for ordinary people.
On 7th Apr 2008 at 12:42 PM Mac said...
Dill I agree with you 110%, Our laws should always include every one and no one should be excluded like the Mcanns have
On 11th Apr 2008 at 06:43 PM Teresa said...
Valid questions being asked
Should the McCanns be re-evaluated by social services and brought to justice for leaving the children alone?
Should they be brought to justice for the same crime many other parents are convicted of which is leaving a young child home alone and most parents will at least have their children taken away from them, be prosecuted as in the case reported for the couple here in the UK or put on the at risk register regardless of wether the child is safe or not as proved in this case.
I know the consequences of being a child left home alone and it doesnt matter if the parent is down the pub getting drunk or out for a family meal, it should not matter if the parent is rich or poor either.
Is it apropriate for the McCanns to be promoting a safety scheme for children abducted when they themselves showed the unsafe care of children?
I do not feel it is appropriate as that would be like asking the couple in the story here to be ambassadors wouldnt it? Lets put it this way, would you want the couple in this story to be ambassadors promoting child safety schemes? Now the campaign has been highlighted it should be handed to someone appropriate especially as there is still contraversy over the situation.
Keep looking for Maddy everyone
As for Gordon Brown, I can't stand that man and he has never replied to my emails about Kendall House and role on the next election as he is not one I will vote for. That man abused his position and i didnt see him jumping in for the family in this story. That says alot doesnt it!