Louise Hewitt, 26, of Torquay, Devon, who has learning difficulties, feared for her life during the brutal nine-hour torture ordeal, which has left her permanently scarred.
The vicious gang even forced their blood-soaked victim to clean up the mess caused by the attack, which she did because she 'was so anxious to please'.
Predictably, this will strengthen calls for there to be a special ‘disability hate crime’ law when what really needs to happen is a good long overhaul of the justice system…
Miss Hewitt's ordeal began after 38-year-old Karl Cook - with whom she shared her home - accused her of making an accusation against him and his young girlfriend Mary Willoughby, 22.
‘With whom she shared her home’..? No more is said.
Encouraged by Mr Cook, Ms Willoughby began to repeatedly punch and kick Miss Hewitt in the face. The attack continued for several hours, until they got bored and wanted to 'spice up their sport', the court heard.
The pair then frogmarched their victim to another Torquay flat, where they joined Lisa Hill, 26, and 27-year-old Kelly Taylor. There Mr Cook 'started to get into his stride and he told the victim she would be subjected to ten different beatings', the court was told.
Premeditated sadistic savagery. Why should these people ever again see the light of day?
Judge Graham Cottle jailed Mr Cook, Ms Willoughby and Ms Taylor for a total of eight years each. Ms Hill was given three years as she played a lesser part in the incident. The sentences were concurrent.
*sigh*
He singled out Cook as the instigator of the attacks even though the women were the ones who meted out most of the violence.
Unfortunately typical. For a certain type of woman.
These cases often seem to have a common denominator of this kind of predatory filth worming their way into the (often supported) housing of vulnerable* adults. Those responsible for administering said housing seem blind or indifferent to it.
ReplyDeleteSadly, when the victims are a certain age, their parents may be elderly, or unable to exert any influence over their adult offspring who are determined to make their own decisions.
It also wouldn't surprise me if those who tortured this poor woman were in receipt of Attendance Allowance as her "carers."
* That's "vulnerable" in its real sense, not as in some little bastard with 700 convictions being "vulnerable."
Sadly not a unique incident - there was a similar case in my home town some years ago which led many people to question the wisdom of encouraging adults with learning difficulties to live 'independently' (for which, read 'where social services can tick all the boxes without interference from troublesome relatives'.)
ReplyDeleteThe Mail's coverage deserves some comment; even by their standards it is revoltingly prurient - bold type and bullet points so their panting public don't miss a single atrocity, and a large picture of an iron for the delectation of readers who might otherwise have trouble imagining the implement.
Doubtless they will be ready - cheque books at the ready - when someone manages to persuade the victim to impart the grisly details for a misery memoir.
And what's the betting that their Defence "Brief" trotted out all the old, time-worn excuses about "Difficult childhood" .. "Alcohol problems" .. "Social issues" ?
ReplyDelete"Why should these people ever again see the light of day" ?
Personally, I favour the Chinese method .. a single round, administered behind the ear .. and the bill for that round sent to their dependants ..
Highly cost-effective .. works for me, in these times of financial restraint ...
I favour the use of the industrial shredder (feet first). Obviously not as cheap and certainly slower than a bullet but as an edifying spectacle to other subhuman filth - priceless.
ReplyDelete"These cases often seem to have a common denominator..."
ReplyDeleteSince posting this, I've come across two more, just yesterday. Both very similar.
Still, as long as the SS get to claim a tick in the box, eh, as Macheath points out?
"The Mail's coverage deserves some comment; even by their standards it is revoltingly prurient..."
Ahhh, the good old 'Mail' and its readership!
"And what's the betting that their Defence "Brief" trotted out all the old, time-worn excuses about "Difficult childhood" .. "Alcohol problems" .. "Social issues" ? "
Doubtless!
"...as an edifying spectacle to other subhuman filth - priceless."
You assume they are capable of learning.
If we ever do find one that is, perhaps we should grind them up and feed them to the others. Well, it works with flatworms!