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| Couple jailed for child torture | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A couple who subjected their four-year-old disabled daughter to a systematic reign of cruelty have been jailed for a total of 22 years. | A couple who subjected their four-year-old disabled daughter to a systematic reign of cruelty have been jailed for a total of 22 years. |
| Samuel Duncan, 27, and his 23-year-old partner, Kimberly Harte, kicked, scalded and effectively scalped the girl, who has cerebral palsy. | Samuel Duncan, 27, and his 23-year-old partner, Kimberly Harte, kicked, scalded and effectively scalped the girl, who has cerebral palsy. |
| Duncan was sentenced to 10 and a half years and Harte was sentenced to 11 and a half years, at Middlesex Crown Court. | Duncan was sentenced to 10 and a half years and Harte was sentenced to 11 and a half years, at Middlesex Crown Court. |
| The couple, of Maida Vale, west London, admitted three counts of child cruelty. | The couple, of Maida Vale, west London, admitted three counts of child cruelty. |
| They had denied charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but were convicted at the end of a trial last December. | They had denied charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but were convicted at the end of a trial last December. |
| This is without doubt the worse case of child abuse I have personally had to deal with Detective Sergeant Anthony Smith | This is without doubt the worse case of child abuse I have personally had to deal with Detective Sergeant Anthony Smith |
| The little girl had boiling water poured over her hands, had huge clumps of hair ripped from her head, was kicked so hard in the groin she suffered internal injuries and was locked naked in the toilet each night. | The little girl had boiling water poured over her hands, had huge clumps of hair ripped from her head, was kicked so hard in the groin she suffered internal injuries and was locked naked in the toilet each night. |
| She was also forced to eat her own faeces. | She was also forced to eat her own faeces. |
| Detective Sergeant Anthony Smith from the Central Child Abuse Team said: "This is without doubt the worse case of child abuse I have personally had to deal with. | Detective Sergeant Anthony Smith from the Central Child Abuse Team said: "This is without doubt the worse case of child abuse I have personally had to deal with. |
| "When I met the young girl she was in a terrible condition. | "When I met the young girl she was in a terrible condition. |
| "But I'm now happy to report that she's improved dramatically with the care that she's now receiving." | "But I'm now happy to report that she's improved dramatically with the care that she's now receiving." |
| 'Would have died' | 'Would have died' |
| Jurors heard the youngster was in almost constant agony until her grandmother began to suspect what was going on and called in social services. | Jurors heard the youngster was in almost constant agony until her grandmother began to suspect what was going on and called in social services. |
| The little girl had suffered such "horrific injuries" that she would almost certainly have died without treatment, the court heard. | The little girl had suffered such "horrific injuries" that she would almost certainly have died without treatment, the court heard. |
| She was in such pain that she had to be examined by doctors under general anaesthetic. | She was in such pain that she had to be examined by doctors under general anaesthetic. |
| Domestic violence | |
| The court heard how the little girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was born prematurely and afflicted with cerebral palsy as a result. | |
| Shortly after her second birthday she was taken into care following concerns about domestic violence. | |
| She was due to be fostered to a family but a report from Westminster Council in January last year recommended the girl be placed back into the care of Duncan and Harte. | |
| Although it is understood up to 20 visits were made to the family home by social services and other care professionals, no abuse was suspected. | |
| But the court heard that within a month of being placed back with her family, the girl was being abused by her carers. |