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Couple jailed for starving baby | Couple jailed for starving baby |
(20 minutes later) | |
A couple who slowly starved their 11-month-old daughter to death have been jailed for five years. | |
Neil and Alison Baker from Swindon pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court. | Neil and Alison Baker from Swindon pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court. |
Health experts who examined baby Kimberley Baker's dead body described her as looking like a "famine-ravaged Third World baby". | Health experts who examined baby Kimberley Baker's dead body described her as looking like a "famine-ravaged Third World baby". |
Passing sentence the judge said: "The chance of life had been snuffed out by the appalling neglect of you two." | Passing sentence the judge said: "The chance of life had been snuffed out by the appalling neglect of you two." |
Police searching the Bakers' home following Kimberley's death on 26 April 2005, found squalid living conditions with excrement smeared on the walls and the property smelling of urine. | Police searching the Bakers' home following Kimberley's death on 26 April 2005, found squalid living conditions with excrement smeared on the walls and the property smelling of urine. |
'Emaciated mite' | |
Mr Justice John Royce said: "She should have been by that time a thriving, lively 11-month-old girl. She was not. | Mr Justice John Royce said: "She should have been by that time a thriving, lively 11-month-old girl. She was not. |
"She was a pitiful, seriously emaciated mite. | "She was a pitiful, seriously emaciated mite. |
"She was dehydrated and starving with severe ulceration on her buttocks and genitalia. Her weight was that of a six-week-old baby. Her skin fell loosely around her - the photos are truly shocking." | "She was dehydrated and starving with severe ulceration on her buttocks and genitalia. Her weight was that of a six-week-old baby. Her skin fell loosely around her - the photos are truly shocking." |
The court was told that three of Mrs Baker's other children have since been taken into care. | |
The suffering endured by Kimberley during the last week of her life was beyond comprehension Det Insp Tim Corner | |
Det Insp Tim Corner from Wiltshire Police said: "This is a tragic case that has touched everyone involved. | |
"The death of a child under any circumstances is an emotionally traumatic occurrence. But a death caused by prolonged starvation at the hands of parents is all the more difficult to come to terms with. | |
"The suffering endured by Kimberley during the last week of her life was beyond comprehension. | |
"Our thoughts are with Kimberley Baker at this time." | |
Judith Barrett, a lawyer for Swindon Borough Council social services department, said: "This is a tragic case and has involved staff from a number of agencies who work with children across Swindon. | |
"A serious case review was undertaken by the Local Safeguarding Children Board. All agencies involved have contributed to it." |
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