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| Stepfather tortured two-year-old | Stepfather tortured two-year-old |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A stepfather who tortured a toddler for four months until she died has been jailed for 12 years and his wife sentenced to six years. | A stepfather who tortured a toddler for four months until she died has been jailed for 12 years and his wife sentenced to six years. |
| Daniel Bishop, 27, from Caerphilly carried out attacks on Lois Lazenby after moving in with her mother. | Daniel Bishop, 27, from Caerphilly carried out attacks on Lois Lazenby after moving in with her mother. |
| Bishop admitted child cruelty and manslaughter and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to the two year old. | Bishop admitted child cruelty and manslaughter and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to the two year old. |
| Sarah Bishop admitted child cruelty at Cardiff Crown Court. | Sarah Bishop admitted child cruelty at Cardiff Crown Court. |
| John Charles Rees QC, prosecuting, said: "The little girl was systematically abused, tortured and ultimately killed. | John Charles Rees QC, prosecuting, said: "The little girl was systematically abused, tortured and ultimately killed. |
| "When she died she was found to have 13 fractures to various parts of her body, a cigarette burn, crushing injuries to both her hands and numerous bruises to her head, body and limbs. | "When she died she was found to have 13 fractures to various parts of her body, a cigarette burn, crushing injuries to both her hands and numerous bruises to her head, body and limbs. |
| Lois' mother Sarah Bishop 'turned a blind eye' to the abuse | Lois' mother Sarah Bishop 'turned a blind eye' to the abuse |
| "The doctor who examined her said she would have suffered intense and excruciating pain and significant disability. | "The doctor who examined her said she would have suffered intense and excruciating pain and significant disability. |
| "Lois received no medical attention and neither of the defendants did anything to stop her nightmare." | "Lois received no medical attention and neither of the defendants did anything to stop her nightmare." |
| The court heard that during one incident Bishop lifted the little girl's leg onto a red-hot gas hob causing her severe burns to her left foot. | The court heard that during one incident Bishop lifted the little girl's leg onto a red-hot gas hob causing her severe burns to her left foot. |
| The temperature of the gas hob was estimated at 150 degrees centigrade. | The temperature of the gas hob was estimated at 150 degrees centigrade. |
| Brain haemorrhage | |
| Both Bishop and her mother claimed it was caused when she walked on boiling water accidentally spilled from the kettle. | Both Bishop and her mother claimed it was caused when she walked on boiling water accidentally spilled from the kettle. |
| Bishop shook her so violently that she suffered a brain haemorrhage and died two days later. | Bishop shook her so violently that she suffered a brain haemorrhage and died two days later. |
| Lois' mother Sarah Bishop, 29, also admitted child cruelty for "turning a blind eye". | Lois' mother Sarah Bishop, 29, also admitted child cruelty for "turning a blind eye". |
| But, the court heard, she was aware of what was going on because she crudely tried to treat her little girl's injuries. | But, the court heard, she was aware of what was going on because she crudely tried to treat her little girl's injuries. |
| Even now Sarah believes that Bishop is the best thing that ever happened to her and she does not think he committed any of the offences John Charles Rees QC | |
| Bishop, a drug user, started torturing the little girl "almost immediately" after moving in with her mother Sarah in the summer of 2004. | Bishop, a drug user, started torturing the little girl "almost immediately" after moving in with her mother Sarah in the summer of 2004. |
| Lois two years and three months old when she died on 8 November 2004, at the couple's home on the Lansbury Park housing estate in Caerphilly. | Lois two years and three months old when she died on 8 November 2004, at the couple's home on the Lansbury Park housing estate in Caerphilly. |
| Mr Rees told the hearing: "Even now Sarah believes that Bishop is the best thing that ever happened to her and she does not think he committed any of the offences." | Mr Rees told the hearing: "Even now Sarah believes that Bishop is the best thing that ever happened to her and she does not think he committed any of the offences." |
| The court heard that two social workers visited the house following reports from a a tradesman working nearby that Daniel Bishop had smacked the toddler. | The court heard that two social workers visited the house following reports from a a tradesman working nearby that Daniel Bishop had smacked the toddler. |
| "Sarah admitted Daniel Bishop smacked the child, " Mr Rees told the court. "It was her view he was entitled to do so as a defacto parent." | "Sarah admitted Daniel Bishop smacked the child, " Mr Rees told the court. "It was her view he was entitled to do so as a defacto parent." |
| I ask - do people really think that if I could have stopped this tragedy happening, would I have allowed it to happen? Shereen Murphy, Sarah Bishop's mother | |
| Two weeks later Sarah took Lois to the doctors for a suspected ear infection. She was told to bring her back a week later but she failed to do so. | Two weeks later Sarah took Lois to the doctors for a suspected ear infection. She was told to bring her back a week later but she failed to do so. |
| The court heard there was a history of failing to keep appointments or deliberately keeping Lois away from social workers at times when she was obviously in pain. | The court heard there was a history of failing to keep appointments or deliberately keeping Lois away from social workers at times when she was obviously in pain. |
| Tests carried out on hair taken from Bishop to check him for drug use, showed the highest level of heroin the forensic expert had ever seen. | Tests carried out on hair taken from Bishop to check him for drug use, showed the highest level of heroin the forensic expert had ever seen. |
| A statement released by Sarah Bishop's mother Shereen Murphy said justice had been done. | |
| "Daniel Bishop has pleaded guilty to Lois's manslaughter. I am aware that a small minority of the community are implying that I, as Lois's grandmother, was aware of what that little girl was suffering and did nothing to stop it. | |
| "I ask - do people really think that if I could have stopped this tragedy happening, would I have allowed it to happen?" |