A 17-month-old baby girl was left unable to walk following a physical and mental ordeal she had suffered at the hands of her carers.
24-year-old Ryan Eames and Sarah Cunningham were charged with child neglect after doctors discovered that the baby they were responsible to care for had suffered multiple bone fractures that her carers failed to report or tend to.
The couple’s dark history began unraveling in January 2019 after the 17-month-old was brought to a British hospital to be treated for her broken arm.
During the examination, however, doctors discovered the baby girl was suffering from much more than just a broken arm. She had reportedly suffered multiple fractures in her legs and couldn’t walk properly because she hadn’t fully recovered yet.
After the police were contacted, the couple was arrested and the child was placed under police protection.
Now, after pleading guilty to child neglect, Eames and Cunningham were sentenced to two years and seven months in prison each.
“In my 11 years working within Northamptonshire Police’s Child Protection Team, this little girl’s case was one of the saddest I have encountered. I cannot imagine what pain she went through in the first few years of her life,” Detective Sergeant Selena Leppard expressed.
“She suffered chronic neglect at the hands of her carers and at 17-months-old was still unable to walk due to fractures to both her legs.
“I am so glad we managed to protect her and I am pleased to report that she is now a thriving, happy little girl being cared for exceptionally well by her foster parents.”
The detective added: “I hope this case shows the seriousness with which we take our role as police officers to protect children and bring offenders to justice.
“Despite this little girl’s exceptionally sad start in life, I hope she reaches all her potential and more.”
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