NATHAN FOX FROM LINDSEY SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL CHILD ABUSE IN KIRTON IN LINDSAY

In October 2017, a deeply disturbing case of child abuse came to light involving Nathan Fox, a man from Kirton in Lindsey, who subjected a two-year-old girl to a horrific campaign of violence and neglect over the course of several weeks. The abuse was characterized by extreme cruelty and included a series of brutal acts that left the young child severely injured and traumatized.

Fox, aged 21 at the time, was found guilty of causing serious physical harm and engaging in child cruelty between February and March 2012. His actions were not isolated; they formed part of a sustained pattern of abuse that shocked the local community and prompted a thorough investigation by authorities. A female co-defendant was also implicated in the case, admitting to allowing the abuse to occur, though her level of involvement was considered less direct.

Prosecutor John Thackray detailed the extent of the child's injuries during the proceedings at Hull Crown Court. He explained that Fox deliberately fractured the girl’s arm and inflicted such severe beatings that she sustained bruises across her nose, arms, chest, and abdomen. The precise cause of the fracture was unclear, but medical examinations indicated it was consistent with twisting or bending injuries. The child was subjected to emotional torment as well; she was locked inside a cupboard, forced to lick food off the floor, and gagged with socks and a quilt cover. Fox also forcibly held her face with his hands, smothering her with a pillow, and repeatedly hit her head against a radiator.

Further details revealed that Fox’s co-defendant assisted in covering up the abuse. She admitted to applying makeup to hide the child's injuries and falsely claimed to police that the girl had fallen down stairs. Communications between the defendants uncovered disturbing insights into Fox’s motives, with messages indicating that he hurt the child because “she would not shut up,” and that he had even lifted her by her head during the abuse.

It was only when the child's family took her to accident and emergency that authorities and social services were alerted to the severity of her injuries. The police quickly intervened, and the girl received the necessary medical attention. The female defendant cooperated with police from the outset, admitting her involvement, whereas Fox initially denied any wrongdoing.

During sentencing, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC condemned the female defendant for her apparent paralysis of action in protecting the child, describing her response as “shameful.” Addressing Fox directly, the judge expressed profound disgust, stating, “For any human being to do that to another human being is unspeakable. To do it to a child defies all understanding.”

As a result of his actions, Nathan Fox was sentenced to seven years in prison. The female co-defendant received a two-year prison sentence, which was suspended for two years, reflecting her lesser degree of involvement in the abuse. The case serves as a stark reminder of the brutal realities of child cruelty and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children in communities like Lindsey and Kirton in Lindsey.