STEPHANIE CHIBNALL FROM GRAVESEND SENTENCED FOR SADISTIC ABUSE OF BOYS IN KENT

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Gravesend, Kent, Stephanie Chibnall, aged 45, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for subjecting three young boys to severe and sadistic abuse while in her care. The abuse, which spanned from 2008 until March 2011, involved a series of brutal punishments inflicted upon the boys, who are now aged nine, ten, and thirteen.

Chibnall’s treatment of the children was characterized by violence and cruelty. Court proceedings revealed that she frequently used bamboo sticks, an electric fly swatter, and her fists to beat the boys, often for trivial reasons such as failing to complete homework or not locating her cigarettes. The physical assaults left the children with numerous cuts, bruises, and scars, some of which required medical attention. One particularly heinous incident involved forcing the youngest boy to brush his teeth with dog feces as a punishment for having a dirty toothbrush, an act described by the judge as ‘depraved and sadistic.’

The abuse came to light after a teacher at the boys’ school noticed one of the children arriving with injuries so severe that they resembled the aftermath of a serious car crash. The teacher’s report prompted an investigation that uncovered the extent of the mistreatment. It was revealed that the boys had been subjected to regular beatings, with one incident involving a bamboo stick breaking during a punishment. The court heard that Chibnall would often punish the children for minor infractions, such as not having enough homework or failing to find her cigarettes, which led to frequent and severe physical assaults.

One of the boys recounted an incident where he was struck so hard that he hit his head on a window sill, resulting in a scar. He was subsequently taken to A&E, where the injury was glued, and he was instructed to tell medical staff he had fallen off his skateboard. Another boy described being punched in the mouth after stating he had no spellings for homework. He was also told not to tell anyone about the abuse, with threats of further violence if he disobeyed.

During the court proceedings, Prosecutor Anthony Prosser detailed the extent of the abuse, emphasizing that the investigation was initiated after one of the boys arrived at school with a large bruise covering his knee and hip, which resembled injuries from a serious car accident. The court was told that the abuse was systematic and frequent, with the children being beaten for minor reasons and subjected to physical punishment that left lasting scars.

Chibnall denied ever physically assaulting the children but claimed she only made them stand in the corner with their hands on their heads as a form of discipline. However, the court found her guilty of three counts of cruelty to a person under 16. In addition to her prison sentence, she will be barred from working with children in the future, as ordered by Maidstone Crown Court.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC addressed the court, expressing concern over the lasting damage inflicted on the boys and condemning the acts as ‘depraved and sadistic.’ The judge’s remarks underscored the severity of the case and the importance of protecting vulnerable children from such abuse in the future.