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Toddler fight women spared jail Toddler fight women spared jail
(about 1 hour later)
Four Plymouth women who goaded toddlers into fighting and filmed it have been given 12-month suspended sentences.Four Plymouth women who goaded toddlers into fighting and filmed it have been given 12-month suspended sentences.
Carole Olver, 48, and her three daughters, admitted child cruelty charges at Plymouth Crown Court. Carole Olver, 48, and her three daughters, Zara, 29, Serenza, 29, and Danielle, 19, admitted child cruelty charges at Plymouth Crown Court.
During the case, seven minutes of video was shown. A boy wearing a nappy was called a "wimp" for not hitting a girl back after she struck him in the face. During the case, seven minutes of video was shown. A boy wearing a nappy was called a "wimp" for not hitting his sister back after she struck him.
The four women are heard laughing as the toddler brother and sister are urged to keep on fighting. The four women are heard laughing as the toddlers are urged to fight.
The boy, aged two, is seen crying after being punched in the face by his three-year-old sister and is told by one of the four women in the room "not to be a wimp or a faggot" and to hit her back. Anyone watching this footage... would have been sickened and saddened Det Sgt Barry Walters The boy, aged two, is seen crying after being punched in the face by his three-year-old sister and is told by one of the four women in the room "not to be a wimp or a faggot" and to hit the girl back.
Anyone watching this footage... would have been sickened and saddened Det Sgt Barry Walters The children's mother pleaded guilty to causing or procuring the children to be ill treated in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.
One of the women pleaded guilty to causing or procuring the children to be ill treated in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury. The women were told they posed no risk to societyThe other three pleaded guilty to jointly inciting the ill treatment of children.
The other three pleaded guilty to jointly inciting the ill treatment of children. Judge Francis Gilbert gave all four women from North Prospect in Plymouth a one-year suspended sentence, saying they posed no risk to the public. He also ordered them to do 100 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Francis Gilbert, gave all four women a one-year suspended sentence, saying they posed no risk to the public. He also ordered them to do 100 hours unpaid work.
The children are in the care of the parents of their father, who is a member of the armed forces.The children are in the care of the parents of their father, who is a member of the armed forces.
Speaking after the case, investigating officer Det Sgt Barry Walters said: "Anyone watching this footage showing grown adults encouraging very young children committing unnatural acts would have been sickened and saddened.Speaking after the case, investigating officer Det Sgt Barry Walters said: "Anyone watching this footage showing grown adults encouraging very young children committing unnatural acts would have been sickened and saddened.
"We have been in touch with child protection teams across the country and to my knowledge this is the first time that something like this has ever gone to court.""We have been in touch with child protection teams across the country and to my knowledge this is the first time that something like this has ever gone to court."
He said the sentencing was the "decision of the judge".He said the sentencing was the "decision of the judge".
"Our priority and the priority of their family is the children."Our priority and the priority of their family is the children.
"They are in a very supportive family who wish to bring them up the best way they can.""They are in a very supportive family who wish to bring them up the best way they can."