[Pyramid*]

When the hell are both social services ever going to do their jobs right, and when the hell are our Court Judges ever going to pass out correct sentencing - this is awful and the sentence passed sickens me.

Two brothers had their childhood ‘stolen’ by their mother and stepfather who kept them locked in a bedroom for up to 23 hours a day, a court was told.

The boys were shut away for weeks on end, given little food and forced to take cold showers in the garden with a hosepipe.

They endured the ‘oppressive regime’ for seven years and when they were eventually rescued as teenagers, they were so malnourished that neither had gone through the normal physical changes of puberty

The younger, aged 17, weighed just five stone six pounds and his elder brother, aged 19, was six stone.

Mother Linsley Holmes, 41, was jailed for four years and her ‘domineering’ husband Corin Holmes, 39, given a five-year prison sentence at Grimsby Crown Court. Both admitted child cruelty and false imprisonment.

The case raises serious questions about social workers and teachers who failed to raise the alarm about the family.

Social services had investigated them years earlier, but the case was closed after it was decided that the boys’ ‘basic needs’ were being met by the pair.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1vCMWw8zs

[Z]

Wow, surely the physical state of the two boys is more than enough evidence to show that the parents deserve a much longer sentence? That's outrageous.

[Kizzy]

Wow...That is so shocking, when I read it I was not expecting it to be in the UK... 4 and 5 years? seriously its unbelievable

[Kazanne]

Not surprised really we are in Britain, land of easy crime and even easier punishments,those boys will be scarred for life,the so called 'parents' get a measily 4/5 years which of course will be halved as we might infringe THEIR human rights,if it wasn't so tragic it would be laughable.

[joeysteele]

I am really getting mad at even more failures to ensure that Children are safe in their homes, or anywhere else, but particularly in their homes in this Country.

While it is true Social Services should have been able to do more here, what do Courts really think when they pass such paltry sentencing.
With the cuts we have going on at present, in future Social Services are likely to say they are now more overstretched than ever. Once though something like this reaches Court, then the sentencing really needs to get ramped up to at least double the figures given for this crime.

Get the petty criminals out of prison and make probation and other penalties more intrusive and demanding on them, that will then open up prison places for the likes of these truly rotten individuals who will get far better treatment in prison than they gave to these children.
It is another case where thankfully,but only just,these children didn't lose their lives but to have held them as prisoners for so long with such abuse too and then as kazanne said get these ridiculous sentences really makes me mad.

When,just when are Govts and the law going to really put in place correct and well checked protection of children in the UK but more to the point also do a review of the sentencing of crimes against children and get these rotten people off the streets and away from children for a much longer time in prison.

[InOne]

Another cheerful thread to wake up to

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by kazanne

Not surprised really we are in Britain, land of easy crime and even easier punishments,those boys will be scarred for life,the so called 'parents' get a measily 4/5 years which of course will be halved as we might infringe THEIR human rights,if it wasn't so tragic it would be laughable.

Exactly this.

[Livia]

These two should go to prison for life and be put to work with the rest of the dregs of society. Not sure what doing, but something... maybe a treadmill powering the National Grid. I can see the liberals and hand-wringers getting upset about this couple's human rights already though, so that'll never happen.

[Jack_]

Firstly, knew which paper this article would be from before I opened the thread.

Secondly, this is way too short a sentence. What a foul crime. It's quite disturbing how some people can treat anyone, let alone their own children like this. Some serious mental issues if you ask me, and they need investigating ASAP.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Firstly, knew which paper this article would be from before I opened the thread.

Secondly, this is way too short a sentence. What a foul crime. It's quite disturbing how some people can treat anyone, let alone their own children like this. Some serious mental issues if you ask me, and they need investigating ASAP.

What your 'First' point has to do with this story - god knows unless it was some shallow attempt at a dig because I HAPPENED to quote from the Daily Mail.... given it makes absolutely no difference whatsover to the crime committed - and more importantly: to the sentence given - I see no point to your comment.

But here's another link should this be more to your taste. Don't say I'm not accomodating!


http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/...buse-1-4559329

Both defendants admitted two counts of child cruelty and two counts of false imprisonment. Corin Holmes also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of voyeurism after he secretly filmed intimate footage of a female neighbour.

He was jailed for one month for this offence to run concurrently and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.

Judge David Tremberg said the abuse had a “seriously damaging” effects on the boys’ physical health and emotional well-being, and their childhood had been “stolen”.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Jason Nutting of Humberside Police, said: “Information came to light suggesting these young men had been seriously neglected by their parents.

“Specialist officers from the Humberside Police public protection team worked with colleagues from North East Lincolnshire Children’s social care and thoroughly investigated the circumstances. As evidence was gathered, the concerns became substantiated and it was clear that serious offences had been committed.

“I hope the young men involved can now put this behind them, and I am extremely proud of the way they conducted themselves throughout the investigation.”

[lostalex]

Some people are truly Evil, and unfortunately the people in the justice system don't realize that.

i think judges should be held accountable if someone re-offends. Judges that allow criminals to be released should be punished if the criminal re-offends.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by lostalex

Some people are truly Evil, and unfortunately the people in the justice system don't realize that.

i think judges should be held accountable if someone re-offends. Judges that allow criminals to be released should be punished if the criminal re-offends.

It's about time some Judges got a taste of the life that some of the victims of crime did..... I'd pretty sure they'd wise up a damn sight quicker on the old passing sentence front.

It's pathetic to think that in a the blink of an eye: 2 years will have passed and these two will be free.

Our Courts of Law are a complete joke - no wonder the world laughs at Britain half the time.

[waterhog]

i think all judges are in on it.