Custodial dad jailed for 'harrowing" child abuse (Leeds, England, United Kingdom)

As is typically the case, the fact that UNNAMED DAD was custodial is buried till paragraph 7, and how he became custodial is vague to the extreme. He was "left" with the children "after the marriage broke down"? Rubbish. Marriages aren't automobiles that "break down." Seems more likely--given Dad' s history--that the wife (the mother of these girls?) was forced out for her own safety. That is if she's even alive--and I consider that a big if unless I see evidence to the contrary. But none of this is clarified in the slightest. AND IT NEEDS TO BE if the public is to understand how abusive custodial fathers obtain custody/access to child victims.

Notice that like a fair number of custodial dads, a female is drafted into playing the actual caretaking role (in this case, the oldest daughter). And that both daughters were physically abused and sexually abused by Daddy Dearest.

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Dad-jailed-for-39harrowing39-child.6572520.jp

Dad jailed for 'harrowing' child abuse
Published Date: 09 October 2010
By Tony Gardner

Published Date: 09 October 2010
By Tony Gardner

A father who subjected his two daughters to cruel sexual and physical abuse has been jailed for seven and a half years.

A judge yesterday described the 56-year-old's treatment of his children at their home in Leeds as "truly harrowing".

Leeds Crown Court heard he subjected his eldest daughter to systematic abuse from the age of 12 and his youngest from the age of 14.

Their ordeals ended when they escaped their father when they reached 16. The abuse came to light when his youngest daughter, now in her 30s, contacted police.

Richard Gioserano, prosecuting, told the court the abuse began when they lived in another part of the country.

They were beaten with a belt and on one occasion forced to eat sugar and leading to them developing worms.

The sexual abuse of the eldest daughter began after the father's marriage broke down and he was left with the children.

The family moved to Leeds in the late 1980s where the sexual abuse and cruelty continued.

Mr Gioserano said the eldest girl was made responsible for cooking meals, cleaning, washing and ironing. She would be hit with a belt if food was found missing from the kitchen.

The father put locks on the cupboard and fridge and would even tell his children he had counted the slices of bread.

On one occasion they went to a social club where the eldest daughter refused to dance with her father.

When she got home he gave her a black eye, dragged her by her hair and hit her with a mirror.

The youngest daughter continued to be abused when he sister left home until she too escaped her father when she reached 16.

He pleaded guilty to six offences of indecent assault, two offences of cruelty and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Jonathan Devlin, mitigating, said asked that the man, who cannot be named, be given credit for his guilty pleas so his daughters did not have to give evidence.

He said the father had no previous convictions and this would be his first taste of custody.

Jailing him, Recorder of Leeds judge Peter Collier said: "It was nothing more than wicked and selfish behaviour for your own sexual gratification."