Legal News
Humberside Couple Jailed For Child Cruelty Offenses (5 October 2011)
Date: 05/10/2011
A Grimsby couple who were witnessed holding a young girl to the ground and forcing a spider into her mouth as she screamed and cried have been jailed for child cruelty. The pair made videos of their tormenting of the girl and a baby boy. During one incident, the duo made the young girl hold the baby against a hot radiator, leaving him with severe burns. The injured child was discovered by a paramedic and was taken to the burns unit at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield. Relatives of the children sobbed as the videos were played to Grimsby Crown Court.
James Kirman and Rachel Drinkell admitted failing to supervise the children properly and delaying contacting medical services following the radiator burning of the baby boy. Defending Mr. Kirman, Ernie Lidster, claimed the spider episode to be a “joke that went too far”. Mr. Lidster told the court that Mr. Kirman accepted he delayed requesting medical help when the boy was burned on the radiator. Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, told the court that both adults could be seen smiling during inflicting child cruelty. Mr. Evans told that experts at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, reported that the actions of Mr. Kirman and Miss Drinkell had had psychological effects on the two children. One child was said to be “reserved” in nature. The other is said to have problems sleeping. Both parents received a 32-month prison sentence.
Child care law solicitors at Duncan Lewis advise and represent parents, other family members, children, and children’s guardians in all public law proceedings.