A Nigerian couple living in the UK who abused their children over a period of ten years, today, bagged seven-year jail terms each.The Nigerian couple from Haringey claimed their six children were posessed by evil spirits and beat them with brooms, hoovers and wires. They were also accused of giving their baby a morphine overdose just days after her first birthday.
What makes this case particularly noteworthy is that it was brought to attention by star actress Michelle Collins of Coronation Street, who met the children at a church lunch. The children looked so neglected that Collins took them to a cinema “because she felt sorry for them”.
The kids were finally rescued after their nine year-old daughter threw a heart-wrenching SOS note out of a window in April 2010.
Telegraph reported that the content of the note 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. 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.”
The note was found by a neighbour who called the police. Officers went to found the children living in messy conditions with “dirty” and “dishevelled” clothing.
The baby they nearly killed had been allowed to stay in the home by Haringey council even after the other five other children were rescued.
The eldest daughter had revealing scars on her body and 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”.
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.’
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.
During their trial, the parents claimed they were victims of a conspiracy — and even alleged Collins was involved in a witch hunt against them and wanted to “steal” their children.
As they left the court they wailed: “We are innocent, this is a miscarriage of justice”.
The couple, who cannot be named for legal reasons and to protect the identity of the children face deportation to Nigeria once they have served their sentences.
Photo Credit: Guardian UK
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