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Woman made foster daughter kneel in scalding water Woman made foster daughter kneel in scalding water
(about 2 hours later)
A woman made her foster daughter kneel in scalding water after the youngster soiled herself, a family court judge has concluded.A woman made her foster daughter kneel in scalding water after the youngster soiled herself, a family court judge has concluded.
Judge Sarah Singleton said the girl, now 12, had also been seen picking up faeces in the garden of her Lancashire home and had been bitten by her foster parents’ three Rottweiler dogs. She said the woman and her partner had treated the girl with “cold contempt”. Judge Sarah Singleton said the girl, now 12, had also been seen picking up faeces in the garden of her Lancashire home and had been bitten by her foster parents’ three rottweiler dogs. She said the woman and her partner had treated the girl with “cold contempt”.
Singleton said the girl had suffered serious leg injuries and been left scarred and deeply traumatised. She said the girl’s foster mother and father, who also had at least one cat and a large pig, were responsible for emotional abuse and neglect. Evidence showed the animals were well cared for. The judge said the foster mother had demonstrated more warmth for the animals than the girl.Singleton said the girl had suffered serious leg injuries and been left scarred and deeply traumatised. She said the girl’s foster mother and father, who also had at least one cat and a large pig, were responsible for emotional abuse and neglect. Evidence showed the animals were well cared for. The judge said the foster mother had demonstrated more warmth for the animals than the girl.
Neighbours and school staff had been concerned, police and social workers had been involved and opportunities to protect had been missed, Singleton said. She added that she was concerned about the “quality and superficiality” of an assessment carried out by social services staff at Lancashire county council five years ago.Neighbours and school staff had been concerned, police and social workers had been involved and opportunities to protect had been missed, Singleton said. She added that she was concerned about the “quality and superficiality” of an assessment carried out by social services staff at Lancashire county council five years ago.
The girl had lived with the couple for about a decade and was now in the care of Lancashire council. She had been taken from the couple about two years ago after making complaints about her foster mother’s “cruelty and abuse” during sessions with a counsellor organised through a school.The girl had lived with the couple for about a decade and was now in the care of Lancashire council. She had been taken from the couple about two years ago after making complaints about her foster mother’s “cruelty and abuse” during sessions with a counsellor organised through a school.
Details have emerged in a ruling by the judge following a private hearing at a Blackpool family court. Singleton said she had been asked to make decisions about who had caused harm, to help social workers make plans for the youngster’s future. She said the girl could not be identified.Details have emerged in a ruling by the judge following a private hearing at a Blackpool family court. Singleton said she had been asked to make decisions about who had caused harm, to help social workers make plans for the youngster’s future. She said the girl could not be identified.
The foster parents were not named. The ruling gave no indication as to whether they had been charged or convicted of criminal offences.The foster parents were not named. The ruling gave no indication as to whether they had been charged or convicted of criminal offences.
Singleton analysed the case early this year but her ruling has only recently been published on a legal website. She said the youngster had been born in Luton, Bedfordshire, and had also lived in Yorkshire. The foster parents had lived near Scarborough and near Blackpool. She said the youngster’s mother was a black Zimbabwean asylum-seeker. Singleton analysed the case early this year but her ruling has only recently been published on a legal website. She said the youngster had been born in Luton, Bedfordshire, and had also lived in Yorkshire. The foster parents had lived near Scarborough and near Blackpool. She said the youngster’s mother was a black Zimbabwean asylum seeker.
The woman had placed her daughter with the couple, who were British and white, under an “informal fostering arrangement”. A residence order had been made in a county court in York 10 years ago, the judge said.The woman had placed her daughter with the couple, who were British and white, under an “informal fostering arrangement”. A residence order had been made in a county court in York 10 years ago, the judge said.
The foster mother had repeated the N-word with “alarming facility” when giving evidence, the judge said. The foster father had described the girl as “strange and disturbed”, adding: “Maybe it was because she was African.”The foster mother had repeated the N-word with “alarming facility” when giving evidence, the judge said. The foster father had described the girl as “strange and disturbed”, adding: “Maybe it was because she was African.”
Singleton said both foster parents “indignantly” denied allegations. The judge said both had “failed to be truthful” and had “told deliberate lies from time to time”. She said the foster mother had given “frankly incredible” accounts of the girl “pouring or splashing boiling water over herself”.Singleton said both foster parents “indignantly” denied allegations. The judge said both had “failed to be truthful” and had “told deliberate lies from time to time”. She said the foster mother had given “frankly incredible” accounts of the girl “pouring or splashing boiling water over herself”.