[News] Poor little soul - Star Hobson

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rippleman

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2011
4,988
That is truly shocking. Hope they get a good kicking every day they are banged up. As with all child killers, however long they get won't be loing enough.

If we can give mandatory life sentences for killing a copper (even if you didn't intend to do so) why can't we have mandatory life sentences for scum that murder innocent, defenceless children? Has society got its priorities screwed?

RIP Star
 


Arthur

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2003
8,762
Buxted Harbour
Edit: Sky News have just covered this in depth, well done to them. Star was tortured throughout her entire life!

Just read the Sky News story and its a pretty unpleasant read.

The mothers defence that she is a thickit really doesn't wash with me. Even the daftest of folk surely must know that giving a toddler a whack is not right.
 






Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,330
Withdean area
Just read the Sky News story and its a pretty unpleasant read.

The mothers defence that she is a thickit really doesn't wash with me. Even the daftest of folk surely must know that giving a toddler a whack is not right.

I’ve thought the following for a long time. Society has gone two ways:

- The vast majority who were smacked like me, or worse by carers or teachers/heads …. not carrying that on with their own kids. Learning on the job as parents, there are other ways.

- A minority, often into drink and/or drugs who abuse babies/kids, de facto torture, they should be no where near children or pets.

Something must change, in law/services, now.
 
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m@goo

New member
Feb 20, 2020
1,056
I'm very much a lefty liberal and I understand the perpetrators of crimes like these have severe mental issues but I'd gladly turn a blind eye to any physical punishment that long term child abusers were put through. Any punishment.
 


Raleigh Chopper

New member
Sep 1, 2011
12,054
Plymouth
Just awful and upsetting again.
2 in a matter of weeks.
Social Services found wanting again after being warned many times that Star was in danger.
But a decade of cuts to child care has left social services very under staffed with a high level of staff turnover.
How can one of the richest countries in the world even consider making huge cuts to protecting vulnerable children.
No doubt many lessons will be learnt, again.
 




Fignon's Ponytail

Well-known member
Jun 29, 2012
4,478
On the Beach
That has brought tears to my eyes. Yet again, a young defenseless child's life taken from them in the most horrendous & cruel way. I hope those two live out a VERY uncomfortable existence for the rest of their days. Utter scumbags.

Such a beautiful young girl - & its really hit home as she died on my birthday...which, at the time, I was celebrating on the Disney Cruise with my family, surrounded by hundreds of kids enjoying the magic of Disney. She should be growing up doing the same :cry:
 


tricky

Member
Jul 7, 2003
232
Reigate
Agree - I just can't understand how there is any defence for these types of crime. Bit annoyed that the BBC article very much labours on the issues of social services but has virtually nothing on the criminals who did this. Unfortunately, social services are overstretched but also it has been far, far harder to pass the threshold to take children away from parents, especially as the damage caused by taking kids from parents can be quite bad. I guess you end up coming around to the question on whether it is a fundamental right that people should be able to have kids in the first place
 


Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,205
Faversham
As in the last case I am not going to read the details of what was done.

It seems that in both cases family members and others did alert social services and/or police but they didn't investigate properly. Of all the possible changes that might be considered to mitigate against parental child abuse, acting quickly and decisively when things are reported is surely tractable? As is medics acting forensically (legally) when investigating 'mystery' injuries. The rubric needs a bit of an upgrade.

I am sure there will be a queue of certain libertarian types who will argue that it is wrong for the state to intrude into the lives of families, but that is just bullshit. I am sure that social services do a great job these days following up on kids who turn up to school in a state (or don't turn up) but they....we need to be more aware of 'parents' who are conniving to keep their filthy abuse secret.
 




Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,330
Withdean area
Just awful and upsetting again.
2 in a matter of weeks.
Social Services found wanting again after being warned many times that Star was in danger.
But a decade of cuts to child care has left social services very under staffed with a high level of staff turnover.
How can one of the richest countries in the world even consider making huge cuts to protecting vulnerable children.
No doubt many lessons will be learnt, again.

Plus sometimes some arrogant people in council services not fit for purpose.

Star’s great grandad contacted socials services about the raft of new bruises and sudden introspectiveness. He was looked up and down as if a trouble-making fantasist, brushed aside.

The police were hamstrung in the little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes case by social services, it emerged that the protocol is that police have to take a backseat to social services.

These torture cases have been going on all our lives, under governments of every colour.

More resources, yes definitely.

But imho a complete overhaul of the safeguarding systems. Someone taking ownership from day one, to be frank I’d rather it was a specialist police officer.
 


DavidRyder

Well-known member
Jul 23, 2013
2,931
Can only hope that they both go to jail for a very long time and they are given hell on a daily basis.
 


Recidivist

Active member
Apr 28, 2019
287
Worthing
Another dreadful story of (to me) almost unimaginable cruelty to your own children.

Have some sympathy for both police and social services who must be terribly stretched due to financial pressures and covid issues.

My belief is that, if abuse is suspected, it should be mandatory for children to be physically examined by a doctor at regular (monthly?) intervals.

Would at least offer some protection against the worst cases of physical abuse?

Any other ideas out there?!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 






Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,205
Faversham
Plus sometimes some arrogant people in council services not fit for purpose.

Star’s great grandad contacted socials services about the raft of new bruises and sudden introspectiveness. He was looked up and down as if a trouble-making fantasist, brushed aside.

The police were hamstrung in the little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes case by social services, it emerged that the protocol is that police have to take a backseat to social services.

These torture cases have been going on all our lives, under governments of every colour.

More resources, yes definitely.

But imho a complete overhaul of the safeguarding systems. Someone taking ownership from day one, to be frank I’d rather it was a specialist police officer
.

Precisely.

And it would help if the hangers and floggers piped down because the key here is prevention, not what to do when it's too late. As far as deterrence is concerned, people who do this sort of stuff are not going to weigh up whether it is 'worth it' in the light of possible punishments, are they? Not that I'm not in favour of harsh punishments, of course. But that's a separate issue.
 
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Springal

Well-known member
Feb 12, 2005
24,785
GOSBTS
Agreed - Social Services have let the kids down in both cases sadly.
 


DIFFBROOK

Really Up the Junction
Feb 3, 2005
2,267
Yorkshire
Reviews are had, people say that they will learn from mistakes of the past, yet it happens time and time again.

I dont think the authorities go out of their way to overlook -that would be criminal in itself. But, Social Services, particularly in this area are stretched staff wise, funding wise. And that is not a dig at this Govt (although Camerons Govt really cut to the bone).

Similarly, Social Services are pressurised wherever to keep families together. There is a massive shortfall in adoption and in particular fostering. We can all play a part in that

Clearly, as in the case before, the authorities were too mindful to dismiss concerns and too readily to accept the words of the supposed carer. Clearly, SS and the Police need to up their game on this.

I adopted a little girl (best thing that ever happened in my life). I remember my first day looking after her on my own (my wife gone back to work). Coincidentally, Social Service were due their standard monthly visit. Of all days my baby daughter, just learning to walk, fell and hit her head on the socket. Massive bump came up. I was apologising as soon as SS came through the door. The lady said to me, that abusers rarely hit the face, but the body where it cant be seen. How depressing.
 




Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,330
Withdean area
Precisely.

And it would help if the hangers and floggers piped down because the key here is prevention, not what to do when it's too late. As far as deterrence is concerned, people who do this sort of stuff are not going to weigh up whether it is 'worth it' in the light of possible punishments, are they? Not that I'm not in favour of harsh punishments, of course. But that's a separate issue.

Like anything in life or business or in the service industries …. someone to take ownership from day one of suspicions being raised.

A specialist, with wide ranging powers.

Acting there and then, not tomorrow, not a cog in a bureaucracy.

Then perhaps these little mites will get the protection and new life they deserve.
 


faoileán

Well-known member
Jan 29, 2021
914
What IS it with these sick ####s?

https://news.sky.com/story/star-hobson-mother-and-partner-found-guilty-over-death-of-16-month-old-girl-12489785

Mother and partner found guilty over death of 16-month-old girl.

Bless her little soul.


It's appalling. This is no criticism, but I've been dwelling on your use of the word "soul". Having a soul presumes that there is a god who has issued a spiritual essence to this poor child. I just can't see it; if there were a god why would he abandon the soul that he has issued to this 16 month old baby for a short life of misery, but allow Elon Musk to accrue a $300 billion dollar personal fortune?
 


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