FALKIRK MAN CAMERON COLE AND PHILLIS ARTHUR ON TRIAL FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN SQUALID CONDITIONS

A couple from Falkirk, Cameron Cole, aged 48, and Phyllis Arthur, aged 36, are currently standing trial accused of subjecting five children in their care to prolonged and severe abuse spanning over a decade. The allegations detail a disturbing pattern of neglect and cruelty that reportedly persisted from February 2011 through February 2022, with the children enduring deplorable living conditions in the couple’s residence.

According to court proceedings at Stirling Sheriff Court, the children were forced to live in a home described as being in a state of extreme disrepair and filth. The house was said to be inadequately furnished, with floors covered in rubbish and dog excrement, creating an environment that was both unsafe and unhealthy for the minors. It was further alleged that the children were deprived of basic necessities such as sufficient food and drink, which contributed to their suffering.

One of the most shocking claims presented during the trial involved the discovery of a dead pet stored in the freezer within the house, a detail that underscores the neglect and disturbing circumstances surrounding the children’s upbringing. Witnesses and evidence suggest that the children were subjected to physical and emotional abuse, with reports indicating that at least one child was forced to eat their own excrement. Additionally, it was alleged that another child was repeatedly assaulted and threatened with imprisonment, highlighting the severity of the alleged mistreatment.

In the courtroom, the prosecution outlined these allegations, and both Cameron Cole and Phyllis Arthur pleaded not guilty to five charges of wilful neglect, in violation of the 1937 Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act. They also denied two charges of child assault. The trial has been scheduled to last approximately two weeks, during which the court will hear evidence from witnesses and review the extensive allegations.

It was also revealed that Cameron Cole faces an additional charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, further complicating the case. For legal reasons, the identities of the children involved, the oldest of whom is 14, have been protected to prevent any further trauma or identification.

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson emphasized the importance of impartiality in the case, instructing the jury to avoid being influenced by their emotions and to base their verdict solely on the evidence presented during the proceedings.