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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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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. | |
| Walter Roe, 64, admitted four counts of indecent assault at Norwich Crown Court. The couple's employers Norfolk County Council welcomed the sentences. | |
| They said: "Looked after children today are interviewed regularly about care." | |
| Walter Roe was put on the Sex Offenders Register for life. | Walter Roe was put on the Sex Offenders Register for life. |
| The jury heard that girls in the Roea' care they were beaten with sticks, a slipper and a broom. They had soiled underwear rubbed in their faces. | |
| 'Virtual slaves' | 'Virtual slaves' |
| Stephen Spence, prosecuting, said Betty Roe had portrayed herself as a god-fearing, respectable figure. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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." |