Parents of Edlington brothers may face charges
The parents of two brothers who tortured two other children may now face charges
Saturday, 23, Jan 2010 06:05
By Amy Gallivan.
The parents of the two brothers who physically and mentally tortured two other children may now also face charges.
The victims were left for dead in a wasteland near the village of Edlington, south Yorkshire, after the 90-minute ordeal last April.
The brothers, aged 10 and 11 at the time of the attack, were detained indefinitely on Friday over the attack.
Reports suggest investigations will now be made into revelations made during their sentence hearing about their parents' lifestyle of alcohol abuse, violence and drug misuse - with an attempt to bring child neglect charges against them.
Sheffield crown court heard how the brothers led the their victims, aged nine and 11, from a nearby park to the wasteland where they were beaten with bricks, strangled, made to eat nettles and then told to take their clothes off and sexually abuse one another.
During their three-day sentencing hearing the boys were told by Mr Justice Keith that they would serve at least five years and anything further would be decided in the future.
"The fact is this was prolonged, sadistic violence for no reason other than that you got a real kick out of hurting and humiliating them," he said.
"The bottom line for the two of you is that I'm sure you both pose a very high risk of serious harm to others. Your crimes are truly exceptional."
It was alleged in court both brothers were subjected to violent films as part of their home life as well as drinking cider and smoking cannabis grown on their father's allotment.
Temporary Superintendent Ian Bint of Doncaster police said officers would be following up on discoveries made during the sentencing hearing including any psychiatric reports.
When asked if the parents could face charges, he replied: "Yes."
The boys had been placed with foster carers in Edlington by Doncaster social services which has since come in for serious criticism.