NSPCC: Treatment of Black Country's real life 'Cinderella' was 'barbaric'
A leading children's charity has condemned the treatment of a Wolverhampton girl as 'barbaric'.
The girl was forced to endure four years of misery as she slept on a scrap of carpet in a shed, was starved of food, and forced to wear threadbare cast offs from her well dressed brother and sisters.
She was so hungry she resorted to stealing from bins and biting her own arm, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
Her mother and stepfather were both sentenced to four years three months for child cruelty.
What do you think? Are the sentences for the mother and stepfather too lenient?
After yesterday's sentence the NSPCC described the girl's treatment as 'barbaric' and said the case 'served as a warning' to everyone to be vigilant in spotting signs of child cruelty.
A spokesman said: “Instead of love and affection, this vulnerable victim was forced to endure barbaric treatment at the hands of adults who should have been caring and attentive.
“No child should ever have to forage through bins for scraps of food or sleep outside in the freezing cold.
“This case serves as a warning to everyone that we must all be vigilant in spotting the signs of child neglect and cruelty.
“Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. Children can speak to a dedicated counsellor at Childline free and confidentially on 0800 1111 or via www.childline.org.uk.”
West Midlands Police said it moved swiftly to protect the child and arrest the mother and stepfather after officers had been informed of the cruelty.
Detective Sergeant Catherine Loosemore, from the force’s public protection unit, said: "As soon as we were alerted to the child’s ill-treatment, we moved swiftly to arrest those responsible for her well-being.
"They initially denied the abuse, saying that it was the girl’s choice to sleep outside and that she was fed, but made herself sick, accounting for her small frame. At the time she was wearing the clothes of a seven-year-old and these were dirty and secondhand.
"As soon as she was taken into foster care, she quickly began to gain weight and slowly felt safe enough to talk about how she had been bullied at school as a result of her home life and poor hygiene.
"She had been frightened of her step-father who had threatened her on many occasions and she couldn’t understand why she alone suffered this abuse.
"Although she has recovered physically, the mental scars remain, but I hope with time and the happy home she now finds herself in, she will be able to feel the love and stability that she deserves."
