The British media call the house where the two children and a couple lived, a house of horror, condemned today for neglect. The case came to light when a 4-year-old boy ran out of the house. When he was found, he had so many bruises that doctors initially thought he had leukemia. His whereabouts led to the second child, who was found trapped in a makeshift cage.
Claire Boyle, 34, and Timothy Johnston, 57, from Scotland, were holding the two-year-old in a crib, locked on all sides, to prevent him from leaving. He was found inside it by the police with his diaper full.
The four-year-old had managed to get out of the house through an opening in the window. They found him on the street in his pajamas and transported him to the hospital in October 2018. Doctors initially believed that the boy was suffering from an illness when they saw the bruises on his body.
During the trial it was revealed that in 2014 Boyle had tried to sell a 10-month-old child for a million pounds.
Boyle and Johnston were found guilty today of neglecting the two-year-old boy, while Boyle was convicted of the same charge and the eldest child. Boyle is facing jail time, as it is her third conviction for child neglect.
The police investigation started after a report was made by the person who found the 4-year-old on the street. In addition to the bruises, the older child also had traces of blood that had dried around his ears. Dr Christine Findlay was also told in court that the 4-year-old looked very hungry when he was found.
Officer Adam Peppard said of the two-year-old that he was found upset, with his diaper full hanging. "It was in the makeshift cot - its bottom had been removed and placed on top to prevent it from coming out."
Source: Newsbeast.gr