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Hoarding couple admit child cruelty | Hoarding couple admit child cruelty |
(10 days later) | |
A couple who filled their home with junk have been given suspended prison sentences for child cruelty in what is thought to be the first prosecution for hoarding. | A couple who filled their home with junk have been given suspended prison sentences for child cruelty in what is thought to be the first prosecution for hoarding. |
Ambulanceman Duncan Scott, 47, and his partner, Claire Anderson, 46, were told by a judge at the Old Bailey in London that they were lucky he was not jailing them immediately. | Ambulanceman Duncan Scott, 47, and his partner, Claire Anderson, 46, were told by a judge at the Old Bailey in London that they were lucky he was not jailing them immediately. |
The couple, from Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to four charges of child cruelty by providing inappropriate living condition for four children between September 2007 and September 2011. | The couple, from Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to four charges of child cruelty by providing inappropriate living condition for four children between September 2007 and September 2011. |
The court heard there were piles of clothes in the bedrooms and toys and other items from car boot sales all over the house. | The court heard there were piles of clothes in the bedrooms and toys and other items from car boot sales all over the house. |
Police and social workers who went to the three-bedroom terraced property found the youngsters were eating their meals on the stairs because the kitchen was so cluttered. | Police and social workers who went to the three-bedroom terraced property found the youngsters were eating their meals on the stairs because the kitchen was so cluttered. |
The children, who are all aged under 16, cannot be identified for legal reasons. | The children, who are all aged under 16, cannot be identified for legal reasons. |
Charles Ward-Jackson, prosecuting, said the house was "extremely untidy" but it was accepted that it was clean. | Charles Ward-Jackson, prosecuting, said the house was "extremely untidy" but it was accepted that it was clean. |
The couple had been warned after social workers visited the house on a number of occasions, but were ignored. | The couple had been warned after social workers visited the house on a number of occasions, but were ignored. |
Judge John Bevan observed: "He has got money problems, she seems to spend it all at car boot sales. She shows a number of characteristics common in individuals who hoard, frequently shopping, visiting car boot sales on a weekly basis. | Judge John Bevan observed: "He has got money problems, she seems to spend it all at car boot sales. She shows a number of characteristics common in individuals who hoard, frequently shopping, visiting car boot sales on a weekly basis. |
"She seems to have spent a lot of time socialising at them in order to give her a social life." | "She seems to have spent a lot of time socialising at them in order to give her a social life." |
Bozzie Sheffi, for Anderson, said she suffered from depression and was physically exhausted. | Bozzie Sheffi, for Anderson, said she suffered from depression and was physically exhausted. |
Bevan sentenced the couple to six months' jail, suspended for two years, and ordered them each to do 150 hours of unpaid work. | Bevan sentenced the couple to six months' jail, suspended for two years, and ordered them each to do 150 hours of unpaid work. |
The couple were on bail and Bevan told them: "You can count yourselves fortunate that you are leaving by the same door you came in through." | The couple were on bail and Bevan told them: "You can count yourselves fortunate that you are leaving by the same door you came in through." |
The judge said the couple appeared to blame each other. He added: "The evidence demonstrates, and one only has to look at the photographs, that you were slovenly. | The judge said the couple appeared to blame each other. He added: "The evidence demonstrates, and one only has to look at the photographs, that you were slovenly. |
"The photographs are dreadful. The lower bunk bed could not appear to be seen. There was nowhere to eat food other than on the stairs." | "The photographs are dreadful. The lower bunk bed could not appear to be seen. There was nowhere to eat food other than on the stairs." |
He told Scott: "As an ambulance technician, you should have known better." | He told Scott: "As an ambulance technician, you should have known better." |
Addressing Anderson, he said: "You were addicted to car boot sales and clutter. | Addressing Anderson, he said: "You were addicted to car boot sales and clutter. |
"The children were unkempt and untidy. Despite claiming you were suffering depression, you were not prevented from going to car boot sales and making the situation worse and worse." | "The children were unkempt and untidy. Despite claiming you were suffering depression, you were not prevented from going to car boot sales and making the situation worse and worse." |
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