How can parents do this?

I think the father is every bit to blame as the wicked step mother, he did not protect his baby he is a murderer every bit as much as her I hope they both get bruised in prison, how can I even think that, I don’t know but I do hope they get some of their own medicine it will not make up for anything but I want them to be uncomfortable and fearful I want them to feel safer in isolation than with the other prisoners in other words I want them to suffer a fraction of what that little mite suffered
I don’t know what I feel about SS I know they have huge case load and massive amount of reports to write up ( often i their own time) but I do believe the whole service needs a massive shake up The police too missed all the pleas for help and the clues from the family A National disgrace

I am sorry to add a political addition but the police, fire, NHS (especially the mental health section) have been decimated by this government, they have been pulped with numbers cut They are not able to do the job they are needed to do

This little lad was failed by so many it is heart wrenching why oh why did they keep him if they didn’t want him when other family members did

His teacher apparently reported the family to Social Services because he or she was so concerned about Arthur.
Then came lockdown; schools were kept open for children of key workers and vulnerable children but how many vulnerable children never attended because they parents didn't have to send them? How many suffered but haven't died?

There were alarm bells sounding but having a cursory glance at a child on a day which was presumably pre-arranged was not enough.
Most social workers do a wonderful, often harrowing, job within the constraints of the law but this one failed to step in and protect this little boy, as did the police involved.

I hope the monstrous step-mother never has another second's peace during her life in prison and hope that her life in prison will be long.
The same goes for the monster of a father.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels uncomfortable with ‘I hope they suffer in prison’ comments. Incarceration for life (as say Rose West or the late Myra Hindley) is, in my opinion, suitable punishment. Not attacks by inmates.

I'm afraid I can't be that charitable Urms. After what they did, no amount of suffering is enough. They will probably end up in solitary confinement but other prisoners still find ways - and I hope they do.

I agree with Urmstongran. The behaviour of this pair was shocking and depraved and they deserve long long sentences.

But hoping other people also behave in a similar fashion towards them is not something I'm comfortable with.

I don’t think I’m being charitable GSM to be honest. I think loss of liberty for life or a huge number of years must be an awful deprivation. We need tougher sentences for these heinous crimes. We don’t hang the perpetrators so harsh sentencing has to be just that, otherwise what’s the point?

Beswitched ✅

I agree with Urms, whole life or very very long prison sentences, deprived of a full life will have to suffice.
Hoping that others behave like depraved animals to punish depraved animals is not the way a civilised nation should think.

I don't think prison is enough. They get fed, watch TV, get visits. Can Arthur do that? I hope they both suffer badly. I hope they get a taste of their own medicine.

With them both in prison I hope they get what is coming to them. I hope the in mates that are working on kitchen duties and who serve up the food fill every meal they get with salt so they can hardly eat it. That is what they fed to that poor child.
In mates in prison can be nasty and it will be them that work the kitchens that can do that to them so hopefully it will happen. Any thing else let the scumbags rot in hell they deserve nothing less.

I agree nanny. This 'father' told someone that the previous day he had 'gone to town' on Arthur. That doesn't bear thinking about. I hope someone goes to town on him.

Kate :The father was so weak willed and between him and his girl-friend they were monsters to that child. Time for them to suffer now and I know many say nothing bad happens in prisons but just don't be too sure. I have worked with ex offenders and some of the things I heard from them was quite awful. I do not like bullying for any vulnerable in mate but those who deserve it like those two monsters I would not care.

Yes nanny. That child was helpless. He had no chance with older, stronger bullies. I hope those two encounter older, stronger bullies who make them feel helpless. Yes I am vindictive in such cases.

Salt is one of the least harmful things which could be applied in prison kitchens.

No way I feel prison is enough! I’m not a vindictive person but, as in this case, I become evil. I do hope they’ll have some of their own medicine dished out, which in any case, would only be a fraction of what they deserve!

I cannot move past this after reading about it online.
The level of evil and horror is traumatising. I cannot sleep at night without seeing this tragic, helpless, defenceless little boy and all he suffered at the hands of these evil monsters.
Yes, they will go through it in jail, but it won't take away this dear little boy's terrible suffering or bring him back from the horrifying death he suffered at just 6 years old, his paralysing fear or his inexplicable foresight of his own death at the hands of those he loved and trusted

For those hoping she commits suicide, just remember that really is the easy way out. Whilst I don’t agree with other inmates dishing out the punishment, their lives won’t be very pleasant. They must be kept on suicide watch so they serve every single day of the, surely very long, sentences they receive.

I’ve done work in prisons and they aren’t very nice places. They really aren’t the cushy, watching tv all day holiday camps that people think. I doubt they’ll be on normal wings and they’ll be watching their backs constantly.

GermanSheperdsmum yes salt is the least harmful for them to put in the food but just for starters it would do. If they put spoon fulls of salt in meals then it would be almost inedible, not nice being hungry all day is it? Like I say that is just for starters.

I m afraid I don’t agree either, I ve never felt vindictive but I would like them to be frightened, shunned, looking over their shoulders perhaps in solitary for periods In fact I would like everything to be done to them that they did to that little lad so made to sleep on the floor, kept without much food, given salt to drink and hit on the back and shoulders Yes they need the same treatment indeed
However long they are in for and remember a life sentence id 20 years and if they behave out in half that they should be mocked and hounded and made to feel fear

Life isn’t 20 years. It’s life subject to whatever minimum period in prison the judge considers appropriate, up to whole life. I hope the latter, though rare, is imposed on the stepmother. It’s unlikely in the father’s case as he was found guilty of manslaughter.

Life with minimum 29 yrs for her. I was hoping it would be 35yrs. He has received 21 yrs. Apparently she was refusing to leave her cell.

I hope they’re terrified.

Appalling. That’s not justice.

Not enough.

Did anyone honestly expect any different?
That's our "justice" system.

As he hasn’t received a life sentence he will be eligible for parole long before 21 yrs.

From what I read yesterday she threw herself out of a first floor window when her ex husband tried to leave her. She broke her leg. She then jumped from the 6th floor of a building when someone else tried to leave. She’s obviously unstable so it’s highly likely she will try to end her life. She will be cheating justice if she succeeds.