Judge Patrick said: ‘No-one who sat through this trial could help
but be moved by the fact that these intelligent, charming, fun, lovable
children continue to love you despite what you put them through.’
but be moved by the fact that these intelligent, charming, fun, lovable
children continue to love you despite what you put them through.’
The married couple denied the allegations claiming they were
victims of a racist witch-hunt but were found guilty of cruelty to a person
under 16.
victims of a racist witch-hunt but were found guilty of cruelty to a person
under 16.
They argued the children had been ‘brainwashed’ into making the
allegations by the police, the London Borough of Haringey and Miss Collins who
they said ‘wanted to steal’ them, Wood Green Crown Court heard.
allegations by the police, the London Borough of Haringey and Miss Collins who
they said ‘wanted to steal’ them, Wood Green Crown Court heard.
But Judge Patrick noted: ‘You
alleged a conspiracy involving a well-known actress, who had done nothing but
show your family generosity and kindness, a member of a housing charity, social
workers and foster carers.
alleged a conspiracy involving a well-known actress, who had done nothing but
show your family generosity and kindness, a member of a housing charity, social
workers and foster carers.
‘Those who had taken the trouble to support you were repeatedly
accused of dishonesty, lying, and conspiracy to rob you of your children when
the reality was that both of you were lying – in fact they ware simply seeking
to give your children stability.’
accused of dishonesty, lying, and conspiracy to rob you of your children when
the reality was that both of you were lying – in fact they ware simply seeking
to give your children stability.’
The abuse came to the attention of police in April 2010 when their
nine-year-old wrote an SOS note and threw it out of her bedroom window.
The heart-breaking plea read:
‘My mum is the worst mum ever because she can’t cope with five of us, her
broken hand and being pregnant. She always leaves me out so I always starve and
I am forced to work.
‘My mum is the worst mum ever because she can’t cope with five of us, her
broken hand and being pregnant. She always leaves me out so I always starve and
I am forced to work.
‘If I don’t get enough
house work done, I am beaten without mercy with the wooden end of a broom. I
have scars all over me to prove it. I can’t stay here. I would like a new mum.’
house work done, I am beaten without mercy with the wooden end of a broom. I
have scars all over me to prove it. I can’t stay here. I would like a new mum.’
It was found by a
neighbour who called the police, and when officers attended the address they
found the children living in messy conditions with ‘dirty’ and ‘dishevelled’
clothing.
neighbour who called the police, and when officers attended the address they
found the children living in messy conditions with ‘dirty’ and ‘dishevelled’
clothing.
Revealing scars the
eldest said her mother had hit her with a cable, a broom, and a hoover and her
father had dangled her by her feet down the stairwell of the house, tied her
hands behind her back and her legs together ‘to get the devilish spirits out’,
prosecutor Emma Smith said.
eldest said her mother had hit her with a cable, a broom, and a hoover and her
father had dangled her by her feet down the stairwell of the house, tied her
hands behind her back and her legs together ‘to get the devilish spirits out’,
prosecutor Emma Smith said.
Her sister, who was
seven at the time, had a stick shaped bruise of her thigh and after a few
months in care, she drew a series of pictures showing her dad beating her and
her being left home alone and including a speech bubble saying ‘I’m hungry.’
seven at the time, had a stick shaped bruise of her thigh and after a few
months in care, she drew a series of pictures showing her dad beating her and
her being left home alone and including a speech bubble saying ‘I’m hungry.’
The children were left home alone for hours, sometimes days on end, with the
elder kids forced to look after the others.
They had even been
forced to lie to a charity and social services that they were living alone with
their mother in one room and had no idea who their dad was so they could scam
benefits.
forced to lie to a charity and social services that they were living alone with
their mother in one room and had no idea who their dad was so they could scam
benefits.
Even during the trial
the eldest feared she had torn her family apart with her ‘devastating cry from
the heart in the form of a letter which she threw from the window’, the judge
noted.
the eldest feared she had torn her family apart with her ‘devastating cry from
the heart in the form of a letter which she threw from the window’, the judge
noted.
There was an
investigation but no further action, and the five children remained in care
until the parents once again came to police attention on 28 June last year,
when they gave their baby an overdose.
investigation but no further action, and the five children remained in care
until the parents once again came to police attention on 28 June last year,
when they gave their baby an overdose.
‘But for the events of
June 28 you would have gotten away with your crimes because of a merciful
decision not to prosecute you’, Judge Patrick noted.
June 28 you would have gotten away with your crimes because of a merciful
decision not to prosecute you’, Judge Patrick noted.
The couple’s sixth
child, a baby girl, was also initially taken into care but then returned to her
parents. They took her to St Thomas’s Hospital just days after her first
birthday last year.
child, a baby girl, was also initially taken into care but then returned to her
parents. They took her to St Thomas’s Hospital just days after her first
birthday last year.
Without treatment she
could have died but doctors managed to save the youngster, who it is believed
was given morphine orally that morning.
could have died but doctors managed to save the youngster, who it is believed
was given morphine orally that morning.
Jurors rejected the
parents conspiracy theories.
parents conspiracy theories.
When they are released
the face deportation back to Nigeria – despite pleas from their legal team that
they have been ‘punished enough’ by having their children taken into care.
the face deportation back to Nigeria – despite pleas from their legal team that
they have been ‘punished enough’ by having their children taken into care.
As they left the court
they wailed: ‘We are innocent, this is a miscarriage of justice.’
they wailed: ‘We are innocent, this is a miscarriage of justice.’
Culled from Daily Mail
