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Cruel foster care couple jailed Cruel foster care couple jailed
(10 minutes later)
A foster carer has been jailed for four years for beating girls she looked after and her husband has been given a three-year jail term for sexual abuse.A foster carer has been jailed for four years for beating girls she looked after and her husband has been given a three-year jail term for sexual abuse.
Betty Roe, 64, of Hall Road, Norwich, who cared for about 280 children in the 1970s and 80s, denied cruelty charges on six girls.Betty Roe, 64, of Hall Road, Norwich, who cared for about 280 children in the 1970s and 80s, denied cruelty charges on six girls.
Walter Roe, 64, admitted four offences of indecent assault.Walter Roe, 64, admitted four offences of indecent assault.
Their victims told Norwich Crown Court they were beaten with a broom and had soiled underwear rubbed in their faces.Their victims told Norwich Crown Court they were beaten with a broom and had soiled underwear rubbed in their faces.
Mr Roe was put on the sex offenders' register for life. Walter Roe was put on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Judge Paul Downes described the actions of the couple as "humiliating" and branded some of their punishments as "despicable". 'Virtual slaves'
Stephen Spence, prosecuting, said Betty Roe had portrayed herself as a god-fearing, respectable figure.
But, he said, behind closed doors she was deliberately cruel to the children, regularly beating them with anything that came to hand.
The court heard that the catalogue of abuse included keeping the children short of food, making them "virtual slaves" by performing household chores and starving them of affection.
These days, potential foster carers are subject to much more stringent checking before being appointed Lisa Christensen, Norfolk children's services
Judge Paul Downes said: "Foster parents are unsung heroes of the system and take on difficult children from deprived backgrounds and no-one would want to take away their achievements.
"What you have done is besmirch that reputation. You looked after vulnerable children and what you did seriously breached that trust."
Norfolk County Council, which employed the Roes, welcomed the sentences and said the Roes were guilty of a serious abuse of trust.
Lisa Christensen, director of children's services, said: "Both Mr and Mrs Roe were subject to appropriate checks required at the time - more than 30 years ago - before being allowed to become foster carers by then Norwich County Borough Council in early 1973.
"Nothing arose from those checks to have debarred the Roes.
"These days, potential foster carers are subject to much more stringent checking before being appointed and their behaviour is carefully monitored and subject to an annual review once they are approved."