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| Toddler fight family spared jail | Toddler fight family spared jail |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A mother who goaded her two toddlers to fight each other on video camera has received a 12-month suspended sentence, along with her mother and two sisters. | |
| Zara Olver, 21, her 48-year-old mother Carole, and sisters Serenza Olver, 29, and Danielle Olver, 19, all admitted child cruelty at Plymouth Crown Court. | |
| In the footage, a boy in a nappy was called a "wimp" for not hitting his sister back after she struck him. | In the footage, a boy in a nappy was called a "wimp" for not hitting his sister back after she struck him. |
| The women are heard laughing as the children are urged to fight. | The women are heard laughing as the children are urged to fight. |
| The footage was found by chance by the toddlers' father who was on Army leave. | The footage was found by chance by the toddlers' father who was on Army leave. |
| Anyone watching this footage... would have been sickened and saddened Det Sgt Barry Walters | Anyone watching this footage... would have been sickened and saddened Det Sgt Barry Walters |
| The boy, aged two, is seen crying after being punched in the face by his three-year-old sister and is told by one of the four women in the room "not to be a wimp or a faggot" and to hit the girl back. | The boy, aged two, is seen crying after being punched in the face by his three-year-old sister and is told by one of the four women in the room "not to be a wimp or a faggot" and to hit the girl back. |
| The court heard that, when interviewed by police, Carole Olver said: "I didn't see any harm in toughening them up - I done the same with my own children." | The court heard that, when interviewed by police, Carole Olver said: "I didn't see any harm in toughening them up - I done the same with my own children." |
| Zara Olver pleaded guilty to causing or procuring the children to be ill treated in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury. | Zara Olver pleaded guilty to causing or procuring the children to be ill treated in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury. |
| The women were told they posed no risk to societyHer mother and sisters pleaded guilty to jointly inciting the ill treatment of children. | The women were told they posed no risk to societyHer mother and sisters pleaded guilty to jointly inciting the ill treatment of children. |
| Judge Francis Gilbert gave all four women, from North Prospect in Plymouth, a one-year suspended sentence, saying they posed no risk to the public. | Judge Francis Gilbert gave all four women, from North Prospect in Plymouth, a one-year suspended sentence, saying they posed no risk to the public. |
| He also ordered the four to do 100 hours of unpaid work and banned them from working with children. | He also ordered the four to do 100 hours of unpaid work and banned them from working with children. |
| The children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are in the care of the parents of their father. | The children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are in the care of the parents of their father. |
| 'Dog fight' | 'Dog fight' |
| The case came to court after the father returned from a posting in Iraq and found the images on a video camera. | The case came to court after the father returned from a posting in Iraq and found the images on a video camera. |
| He reported the matter to social services in Plymouth who alerted the police's child protection unit. | He reported the matter to social services in Plymouth who alerted the police's child protection unit. |
| If there was an offence that deserved even 12 months in prison this was it Michelle Elliott, Kidscape | If there was an offence that deserved even 12 months in prison this was it Michelle Elliott, Kidscape |
| Prosecutor David Gittins told the court that the father described the footage to police as being "like a dog fight". | Prosecutor David Gittins told the court that the father described the footage to police as being "like a dog fight". |
| "He was reduced to tears," Mr Gittins said. | "He was reduced to tears," Mr Gittins said. |
| "What he saw was not two children playing, but an eight-minute film of them being forced to fight." | "What he saw was not two children playing, but an eight-minute film of them being forced to fight." |
| Speaking after the case, investigating officer Det Sgt Barry Walters said: "Anyone watching this footage showing grown adults encouraging very young children committing unnatural acts would have been sickened and saddened. | Speaking after the case, investigating officer Det Sgt Barry Walters said: "Anyone watching this footage showing grown adults encouraging very young children committing unnatural acts would have been sickened and saddened. |
| "We have been in touch with child protection teams across the country and to my knowledge this is the first time that something like this has ever gone to court." | "We have been in touch with child protection teams across the country and to my knowledge this is the first time that something like this has ever gone to court." |
| Michelle Elliott, director of children's charity Kidscape, said: "Quite frankly if there was an offence that deserved even 12 months in prison this was it. | Michelle Elliott, director of children's charity Kidscape, said: "Quite frankly if there was an offence that deserved even 12 months in prison this was it. |
| "What they've done is send a message that this isn't a very serious thing and they've walked free. I think most people are outraged by that." | "What they've done is send a message that this isn't a very serious thing and they've walked free. I think most people are outraged by that." |