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The sadists' mother: Blighted by drink and cannabis
THE mother of two young brothers who yesterday admitted horrifying attacks on two other boys had a longstanding cannabis habit which meant her children "didn't stand a chance", according to neighbours.
Edlington attacks: Full coverage
Before they were moved to live with foster parents in Edlington, the pair had lived in another part of Doncaster where they were well known to local councillors, police and the social services.
The behaviour of their family meant they were notorious among their neighbours, who were forced to endure a campaign of vandalism, noise and petty crime for several years.
People who lived close to their council semi on the quiet estate described how they celebrated when the 36-year-old mother, who has seven sons aged between eight and 18, was moved out.
But they also said they were shocked at the seriousness of the offences carried out by the two boys and described how they had been left to "fend for themselves", often scavenging in the streets.
Shortly after her sons' first court appearance the woman and her remaining sons were moved by Doncaster Council because there were fears for their safety and their house was boarded up.
It is thought the family was moved to a caravan on the Yorkshire coast. The boys' father fled the area the day after they carried out the attack. Some residents said he was afraid of reprisals.
The house where the boys lived with their mother had a "Beware of the Kids" sign hanging by the front door. No one who lived nearby was willing to give their name, but each had a similar story to tell.
Those who knew the family talked about their chaotic alcohol-and cannabis-fuelled lifestyle. One woman who has known the boys' mother since she was a teenager said her cannabis smoking had deeply affected her life.
But many who knew the family felt it was the mother's partner who was the real problem. They said the family home stuck out, with a wrecked car and abandoned fridge in the front garden and piles of discarded, smashed up equipment and remains of bonfires in the back yard.
Other people said the brothers looked like they were "crying out for attention". One neighbour said: "She never cooked a meal for them. They just scavenged for food or just ate fish and chips and stuff.
"Every day I saw them they were scruffier. Their fingernails were always black. Their shoes were too big for them. They used to scavenge trainers and tracksuit bottoms from skips."
Many residents told how they felt the boys had delighted in carrying out sadistic attacks on younger children and showed worrying signs of pushing things beyond simple boisterous behaviour.
One woman said residents had kept a record of events which was affecting life on a "daily basis".
"There were all kinds of incidents, from smashed windows to bullying of other children," she said. "One mum said the two boys had taken her daughter's doll and set fire to it front of her.
"There didn't seem to be anything anyone could do, even though we had asked for help from the police and the council."
Another neighbour said the boys had seemed totally lawless and added: "They just didn't listen to anyone. If an adult tried to stop them behaving badly they laughed in their face.
"They were vandals and always trying to break something or hurt someone. It seems a terrible thing to say, but everybody was glad to see the back of them."
Their pattern of behaviour continued after they moved and shortly after the attacks in Edlington, other parents came forward to say that their children had been assaulted by two boys who demanded cash, trainers or mobile phones.
One mother, Kelly Waller, 34, told how her 10-year-old son Connor had come home battered and bleeding after two boys had tried to lure him away to look at a giant toad.
She added: "He was punched and kicked and I dread to think what might have happened.
"It was the first time I had let him out on his own and it was frightening when we heard about the other attack."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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