NSPCC responds to Edlington case

In a case that has shocked the nation, two young brothers from Edlington, south Yorkshire, have today been convicted of torturing two other boys, aged nine and 11.

The brothers, now aged 11 and 12, have received indeterminate jail sentences, with a minimum term of five years.

After sentencing, the NSPCC’s chief executive, Andrew Flanagan, said: “This country has not seen such acts of schoolboy savagery for many years. The violent and sadistic tendencies of these brothers grew unchecked over several years – leaving destruction and despair in their wake.

“The case raises serious questions about how children can be left to drift in homes seriously damaged by violence and neglect. Where families cannot give their children a decent start in life, the authorities need to act swiftly and robustly – both for their sake and the rest of society.”