Stepdad chains boy to chair more than 70 times (Stoke-on-Trent, England, United Kingdom)

Stepdad JOHN TOLLEY has been jailed for 3 years for "chaining up" his stepson more than 70 times over 5 years.

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Page last updated at 17:22 GMT, Monday, 28 September 2009 18:22 UK

Stepson chained to chair 70 times

A stepfather has been jailed for three years for chaining up his "naughty and difficult" young stepson like a dog more than 70 times.

John Tolley, 46, used a heavy metal chain to secure the boy to a chair in the conservatory of the family home.

Newport Crown Court heard the boy was just eight when his mother married Tolley in 2003 and the cruelty began.

Tolley, who now lives in Stoke-on Trent, admitted child cruelty over a five year period.

The court heard the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken into care when his mother and Tolley split up.

Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said: "The boy may have resented his mother's relationship with Tolley and been a difficult child.

Tolley would often chain the boy to a heavy chair in the conservatory in an attempt to control him.

Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett
"The boy was subjected to regular beatings in an excessive manner which went beyond reasonable chastisement," Mr Bennett said.

"Tolley would often chain the boy to a heavy chair in the conservatory in an attempt to control him.

"But he would leave enough chain to enable him to go to the toilet.

"This happened 70 times and he would be left with marks to his legs and ankles."

Out of control

Tolley admitted child cruelty between 2003 and 2008 at an earlier hearing.

Ian Ibrahim, defending, said Tolley's family depicted him as a "loving father".

Mr Ibrahim said: "This was not done for sadistic pleasure or because he enjoyed it.

"The situation he found himself in very rapidly spiralled out of control."

Judge Roderick Denyer told Tolley: "I accept that this was an ill-thought out means of trying to discipline the child who was not an easy boy.

"But the fact remains that it was not a one-off attempt to discipline him."