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Toddler fight women spared jail Toddler fight family spared jail
(about 1 hour later)
Four Plymouth women who goaded toddlers into fighting and filmed it have been given 12-month suspended sentences. The grandmother, mother and two aunts of a pair of toddlers who were goaded into fighting and filmed have each been given 12-month suspended sentences.
Carole Olver, 48, and her three daughters, Zara, 21, Serenza, 29, and Danielle, 19, admitted child cruelty charges at Plymouth Crown Court. Grandmother Carole Olver, 48, mother Zara Olver, 21, Serenza Olver, 29, and Danielle Olver, 19, admitted child cruelty 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 his sister back after she struck him. In the footage, a boy in a nappy was called a "wimp" for not hitting his sister back after she struck him.
The four women are heard laughing as the toddlers are urged to fight. The women are heard laughing as the children are urged to fight.
The footage was found by chance by the toddlers' father who was on Army leave.
Anyone watching this footage... would have been sickened and saddened Det Sgt Barry WaltersAnyone 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.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.
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 court heard that, when interviewed by police, Carole Olver said: "I didn't see any harm in toughening them up - I done the same with my own children."
The women were told they posed no risk to societyThe other three pleaded guilty to jointly inciting the ill treatment of children. Zara Olver pleaded guilty to causing or procuring the children to be ill treated in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.
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 and banned them from working with children. The women were told they posed no risk to societyHer mother and sisters pleaded guilty to jointly inciting the ill treatment of children.
The children are in the care of the parents of their father, who is a member of the armed forces. 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.
'Deserved' prison He also ordered the four to do 100 hours of unpaid work and banned them from working with children.
The case came to court after the father returned from a posting in Iraq and found the images on a camcorder. The children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are in the care of the parents of their father.
He then told social services in Plymouth who alerted the police's child protection unit. 'Dog fight'
Our priority and the priority of their family is the children Det Sgt Barry Walters The case came to court after the father returned from a posting in Iraq and found the images on a video camera.
He reported the matter to social services in Plymouth who alerted the police's child protection unit.
If there was an offence that deserved even 12 months in prison this was it Michelle Elliott, Kidscape
Prosecutor David Gittins told the court that the father described the footage to police as being "like a dog fight".
"He was reduced to tears," Mr Gittins said.
"What he saw was not two children playing, but an eight-minute film of them being forced to fight."
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".
"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."
Michelle Elliott, director of children's charity Kidscape, said: "Quite frankly if there was an offence that deserved even 12 months in prison this was it.Michelle Elliott, director of children's charity Kidscape, said: "Quite frankly if there was an offence that deserved even 12 months in prison this was it.
"What they've done is send a message that this isn't a very serious thing and they've walked free. I think most people are outraged by that.""What they've done is send a message that this isn't a very serious thing and they've walked free. I think most people are outraged by that."