Scandal of the child torturers

A case with chilling parallels to Jamie Bulger's abduction and murder, the indeterminate custodial sentence handed down to the notorious troublemakers – now 11 and 12 – was the only option available to Mr Justice Keith.

As the judge said, they subjected their victims to 90 minutes of brutal violence – both physical and sexual – and they got "a real kick out of hurting and humiliating them". Their brutality was remorseless, and they only relented because their arms ached.

There must be no prospect of them being released, indeed Mr Justice Keith said that they must spend at least five years in custody, until it can be proven that they pose no threat whatsoever to others.

On this basis, these monsters face a very lengthy punishment – given their appalling family background and the systemic failure, yet again, of Doncaster's much-criticised care agencies to intervene sooner.

The convicted boys are the epitome of the "lawless generation" – a criminal underclass being allowed to torment communities nationwide. And while this is an exceptional case, and most young people are responsible citizens, brought up in loving and caring homes, the repercussions are far-reaching.

These delinquents endured a "toxic home life". Violence, drug and alcohol abuse were commonplace. Their television viewing, from a very young age, included extreme horror movies.

With tragic irony, the sign outside their home said "Beware of the

kids". It was meant to be a joke. It was nothing of the sort to all those, young and old alike, who were on the receiving end of the thuggery meted out by these brothers.

It defies belief that children are still being born into such a disturbing environment when the Government, and councils across the country, repeatedly maintain that they have learned the lessons from past tragedies – such as the Bulger case in 1993, Baby P's murder or the deaths of seven children on Doncaster's at risk register.

Where was the so-called nanny state when it was most needed? Eighteen months before the Edlington attack, the elder of the brothers, then 10, was convicted of common assault. It was one of many such incidents. The warning signs were there. They were ignored. Why?

When their parents – if that is what they can be called – placed the boys in foster care, and the youngsters moved from Doncaster to the mining community just weeks before their chilling violence so nearly ended in murder, the carers had little chance of controlling such disturbed young minds.

On the day of the attack, the boys should, in fact, have been at a police station being questioned about a previous assault. They did not attend, even though their reputation went before them. They were known by all those who had the misfortune to encounter them. They were widely known by the police and Doncaster's children's services department which had more than 30 chances to intervene.

So, why did they not act until it was too late?

No one will be any the wiser after the obfuscation witnessed when care chiefs tried – and failed – to defend their abject decision-making.

For the record, this is the fifth serious case review to be undertaken in Doncaster in recent times. Bosses say government guidelines are

being followed. Yet the same mistakes persist.

Frankly, this report is too little, too late. It is doubtful whether they key changes will be implemented – given Doncaster's rudderless and shambolic leadership at present. Many of those officials, who could face disciplinary action, have left their posts. And, frankly,

residents had every right to be incredulous at the hand-wringing yesterday and a reluctance by anyone in authority to accept the self-evident shortcomings in this appalling case.

All this supposed multi-agency approach, complete with its much vaunted safeguards, produced was multiple failure – failures that left the boys' two helpless victims scarred for life.

Of course, the violent thugs concerned are ultimately responsible for their depraved reign of terror. That goes without saying.

But, as others call for them never to be released, it should also be asked whether they had any chance of leading some kind of normal life when their pitifully inadequate parents left them at the mercy of a dysfunctional care system that allowed their criminality to spiral out of control, and become more violent by the day?

In short, this attack was eminently preventable. It must never happen again.