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Raw chilli pair guilty of cruelty Raw chilli pair guilty of cruelty
(about 3 hours later)
Two Kent churchgoers who force-fed children raw chilli and raw eggs, and stung them with nettles, have been found guilty of child cruelty offences. Two Kent churchgoers who force-fed children raw chilli and raw eggs, and stung them with nettles, have been found guilty of child cruelty.
Maria Keable, from Ramsgate, Kent, and Deirdre Carrington, from west London, routinely beat the four girls and two boys with wooden rolling pins.Maria Keable, from Ramsgate, Kent, and Deirdre Carrington, from west London, routinely beat the four girls and two boys with wooden rolling pins.
Keable saw her actions as Christian and believed in "love with boundaries", Canterbury Crown Court was told.Keable saw her actions as Christian and believed in "love with boundaries", Canterbury Crown Court was told.
The pair became friends after meeting at a Mormon temple in London in 1997.The pair became friends after meeting at a Mormon temple in London in 1997.
The jury of nine men and three women heard the pair also force-fed the children with tablespoons of hot chilli powder - a punishment they used on a two-year-old-girl. The jury of nine men and three women heard the pair also force-fed the children with hot chilli powder - a punishment they used on a two-year-old-girl.
We sometimes cried because it was really hot and all she'd do was just whack us and give us some more Boy, aged 12 We sometimes cried because it was really hot and all she'd do was just whack us Boy, aged 12
The children, all under 16, were lined up in a row to be punched and kicked, the court was told.The children, all under 16, were lined up in a row to be punched and kicked, the court was told.
One boy was gagged, tied to a bed, and covered with a sheet.One boy was gagged, tied to a bed, and covered with a sheet.
He was also made to punish other children with stinging nettles for fear of being hit.He was also made to punish other children with stinging nettles for fear of being hit.
Another boy, now 12, said: "We sometimes cried because it was really hot and all she'd do was just whack us and give us some more."Another boy, now 12, said: "We sometimes cried because it was really hot and all she'd do was just whack us and give us some more."
But Macedonian Keable, 60, told police "in her country, the use of chilli was normal". But Keable, aged 60 and from Macedonia, told police "in her country, the use of chilli was normal".
'Completely out of control'
She also said she hit the children for not eating raw eggs and honey because it was a "healthy part of their diet".She also said she hit the children for not eating raw eggs and honey because it was a "healthy part of their diet".
And Carrington, 41, of Chiswick, told police she was having "emotional problems" when she made one girl eat chilli powder.And Carrington, 41, of Chiswick, told police she was having "emotional problems" when she made one girl eat chilli powder.
Prosecuting, Robin Johnson said: "This was a case of two women who were completely out of control." 'Element of sadism'
The court heard their reign of physical and emotional cruelty lasted nine years.The court heard their reign of physical and emotional cruelty lasted nine years.
Both denied six child cruelty offences and one assault charge between 1997 and 2006.Both denied six child cruelty offences and one assault charge between 1997 and 2006.
Judge Timothy Nash remanded them in custody to await sentence. Judge Timothy Nash told the women the assault charge may have started in a way that was not "excessive chastisement" but "there came a time towards the later years where it had an element of sadism".
And he said: "I'm quite satisfied that where nettles were concerned it was no botany lesson."
He added: "Deidre wouldn't say boo to a goose. The strength lay with Maria.
"This matrimonial figure, initially perhaps with the best intentions, took complete control and lost it."
Sentencing was adjourned to 4 June and the pair were remanded in custody.