TONY LIPPET AND KYLE MARSHALL HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IN GLOUCESTER
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Gloucester, the son of a foster carer, Tony Lippett, has been convicted and sentenced for severe child abuse involving a five-year-old girl.The abuse, which spanned over three and a half years, culminated in injuries so severe that medical professionals at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital expressed surprise that the young girl survived.
Tony Lippett was found guilty of wilful neglect and child cruelty at Gloucester Crown Court in April.
His mother, Sharon Lippett, who resides in Aldergrove, Gloucester, was also convicted and received a seven-year prison sentence for her role in the abuse.
Alongside Tony, Kyle Marshall, the 22-year-old partner of Sharon Lippett, was also convicted of wilful neglect and sentenced to two years in prison.
The court heard that Marshall had been found guilty of similar neglectful behavior.
The victim, a girl adopted by Sharon Lippett at the age of two in 2012, endured a brutal campaign of abuse that left her with injuries covering 49 different areas of her body, from her head to her legs.
The injuries included bruises and wounds on her face and torso.
The girl was first taken to hospital in June 2015, where doctors described her injuries as life-threatening.
It was during this hospital admission that concerns about her wellbeing were raised, leading to her removal from her foster home and placement with other carers.
During subsequent care, she disclosed further worrying details about her treatment.
The court heard that the girl was subjected to cruel punishments, including being zipped into a suitcase, beaten with various implements, forced to stand in stress positions while holding a heavy Lego box above her head, and even made to hang by her fingertips from a door.
She recounted being told to hold the Lego box aloft and being shouted at if she lowered her arms, despite the pain.
Allegations also included Kyle Marshall instructing her to eat 'dog poo' and threatening to cut off her fingers by forcing her to put her hands on the floor.
The girl’s suffering came to light after she was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on June 14, 2015.
It was only then that authorities became aware of the extent of her injuries and the abuse she had endured.
The case has highlighted the tragic failure of the system to protect a vulnerable child from such horrific treatment, and the sentences handed down reflect the severity of the crimes committed against her.
