Five members of a family have been found guilty on a total of thirty-nine separate charges following a harrowing court case that revealed years of systematic abuse against two young sisters in West Sussex. The convictions include serious offences such as rape, sexual assault, cruelty, false imprisonment, and perverting the course of justice.
Details of the Prolonged Abuse
Hove Crown Court heard distressing evidence that one of the victims, now aged thirteen, was first subjected to attacks when she was just six years old, with the abuse potentially beginning even earlier. The court was told that the young girl endured repeated rapes by her father and two brothers, alongside sexual assaults by her grandfather. The abuse occurred at any time of day or night within the family home, which was described as a house of horrors.
Mother's Role and Further Cruelty
In a particularly shocking aspect of the case, the victim's mother failed to protect her daughter and instead participated in the cruelty. When the girl bravely disclosed the abuse to her mother, she was punished by being locked in a cupboard for several days with tape placed over her mouth. The mother reportedly told the court that having the girl as a daughter made her life hell, so she would make the child's life hell in return.
The victim also suffered additional physical abuse, including being burned with cigarettes and struck with a horse-whip by her father. She was forced to conceal her injuries with makeup, and her father would spit in her face and pull her hair. The abuse continued until the girl reached secondary school, where she eventually confided in a teacher about her fear of returning home.
Sister Also Abused and Financial Exploitation
The court heard that the victim's sister was also abused at the same property in West Sussex. Furthermore, the mother was accused of taking money that other family members had given the victim for special occasions, such as Eid celebrations, adding financial exploitation to the list of harms suffered.
Investigation and Convictions
During a deeply distressing three-hour video interview with police, the primary victim recounted the abuse in detail. She used diagrams and paper cut-outs to illustrate what had happened to her, providing crucial evidence for the investigation. The family members, who cannot be named to protect the victims' identities, were all convicted on the thirty-nine charges. An uncle was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice following the family's arrest.
The case highlights severe failures in child protection and the devastating impact of familial abuse, with the victims showing immense courage in coming forward to ensure justice was served.
