Colchester parents jailed for starving and imprisoning child

The man and woman were sentenced to a combined 23 years in prison following what Essex Police has described as a landmark investigation into the sustained abuse of the boy.

Neither defendant can be named because of legal restrictions protecting the boy’s identity and wellbeing.

The child was found in the Colchester area in May 2020 after police and social services became involved.

He was taken to hospital critically underweight and malnourished, with police saying his BMI was dangerously low and “incompatible with life”.

The boy was unsteady on his feet, frequently shook and had suffered significant muscle wastage.

Doctors suggested any delay in him receiving medical attention could have proved fatal.

Officers investigating the case discovered photographs and videos which showed the boy had been severely neglected and starved between January and May 2020.

Police said he had been isolated in a small room without sufficient food, stimulation for his development or a comfortable and warm place to sleep.

Green tarpaulin covered the floor instead of carpet, while the room was locked from the outside.

The boy spent a long period in hospital and continues to physically recover.

He has undergone several years of psychological support and treatment and is now living in a safe and loving environment.

A man and woman were subsequently charged with grievous bodily harm with intent.

Both denied the charges but were convicted following a five-week trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

They were sentenced on Friday, October 23, with the man jailed for 12 years and the woman for 11 years.

Essex Police believes the case is a landmark one because the pair were convicted of GBH with intent rather than neglect-related offences.

Police and the Crown Prosecution Service jointly pursued the approach in order to reflect both the extent of the boy’s suffering and the deliberate nature of the offending.

Sentencing the pair, His Honour Judge Richard Kelly said the child had been “deliberately starved” and “kept prisoner” in a room which he described as “little more than a cupboard with a window”.

Referring to videos taken of the boy, Judge Kelly said the pair had treated him “in a shockingly humiliating way”.

He added that neither defendant had shown “not a jot of remorse”.

Detective Inspector Luke Baldwin, of Essex Police’s north public protection unit, said: “This is the most distressing case we have dealt with as a team and all involved remain deeply affected by it.

“The harm caused to this child is unthinkable. He was isolated, with nothing to sleep on, no clothes and starved of food for months.

“Since the couple were charged, there have been unavoidable delays which I am sure left the victim wondering if the couple would ever be held accountable.

“However, we can now tell him they have been and that none of what happened to him is in any way his fault.

“This outcome has only been made possible by the perseverance and incredibly strong work with our Essex social care partners.

“There have been so many steps taken across a number of organisations to ensure this child's safety and wellbeing and I hope the public will understand that almost none of them can be shared publicly.

“But I would truly like to pay tribute to the work of one officer in particular who has since retired. His personal sacrifices and incredible diligence were instrumental in the couple being charged with GBH with intent.

“Since his retirement, the case has been navigated through court expertly by DC Katie Steed. Without their work, we may not have reached this outcome.

“But most of all my thoughts are with the young victim in this case and every single member of our team truly hopes he is able to move forward.”