Child abuse in whatever form, be it physical, emotional, child neglect is a very sick and despicable crime.
Children are such innocent loving souls. Why would anyone in their right mind even think of hurting a child?
This is a story about a ruthless old couple that abused not one – but five children all at once. Valerie and Roy Stannard, aged 73 and 74 respectively, have for so long shared an unusual passion. For decades, the old couple has repeatedly and mercilessly tortured and abused a group of five children.
Now Valerie and Roy will be spending the next 21 years of their lives in jail. In all likelihood, they might die in jail while serving their term because they are too old.
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The abuse, which ended about 30 years, included sexual activity with children as well as consistent acts of child cruelty. The old couple was engaging in this criminal activity between 1969 and 1985 in London, UK. Learn more about these violent child molesters and how they will suffer in prison.
The Stannards engaged in child abuse for a really long time, that it became so normal to the old couple. The abuse became part of them. They loved it. For some unknown reason, it made them happy seeing these innocent children in pain.
Some of the abuse they conducted includes: Once Valerie held a young boy’s hand over an open flame. She did not stop at that, she went ahead and stuffed a burning piece of paper down another boy’s pajama pants. How ruthless? Her husband on the other hand, took things a little bit too far, he was a bit more violent. He once punched a young child “as if he was punching a man.”
The Old couple also shamelessly locked these five children in a basement dungeon. As a father of punishing the children said, the ruthless couple would mercilessly lash them with a bamboo cane or a leather belt. They used their home in Stoke Newington, north London to host these inhuman sessions of abuse.
One of their youngest victim, who was only a toddler was tied to his highchair. This poor child was then locked in the closet with the couple’s two dogs until he boy cried for help, the Snaresbrook Crown Court heard this as a testimony.
The five children were also starved when they were staying with the Stannards. Valerie would always draw lines on the milk bottles to monitor how much the children drunk. In the event that they went over the set limit, the poor kids would be severely beaten.
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On top of abusing these innocent souls, Roy also sent them out on the streets to steal from neighbors. When they brought back the stolen items, he would then take them and sell them at his market stall. Roy also stripped naked one of the female children and sexually abused her, not once – but six times!
Another of the Stannards’ victims claimed they forced soap down their throats. To make it worse, This old couple would force the other children to watch the victim of the day get tortured.
The diabolical couple was finally convicted of 18 of 22 charges to five children in March. These charges were inclusive of sexual abuse and child cruelty. Valerie received only 9 years in jail while Roy will be spending 12 years. Therefore the abusive elderly couple will only log 21 years behind bars for their horrible crimes committed against the innocent five children.
During the trial, the Stannards were not remorseful at all despite the fact that these heartbreaking stories were shared in court. The old pair did not show any emotion. They did not at any one time regret what they had done.
It so sad hearing such stories and learning that these terrible things happened to someone. Valerie and Roy’s victims were robbed of their innocence, happiness, and life in general. They were so helpless, they got so used to the daily physical and emotional abuse because they had nowhere to run to.
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Victims said things like: “We were not living, it was just an existence.” So heartbreaking!
Prosecutor Sally-Ann Hales, QC, said: “Their lives routinely involved physical abuse, neglect and cruelty, and in the case of Mr. Stannard involves sexual abuse of two of the children.
They describe a miserable childhood characterized by the cruelty of both defendants and Ms. Stannard in particular. Each experienced or witnessed physical abuse, cruelty or neglect on an almost daily basis. They lived in fear of speaking out or standing up for themselves or each other.
” Thanks to the courts of law, finally justice was served. With the Stannards locked behind bars, their victims can now live a happy life.