Mother, grandmother and stepfather sentenced for 'house of terror' abuse

Mother, grandmother and stepfather sentenced for abuse in a "house of terror" Shirley Freeman, 51, Julia Stephen, 69, and David McColl, 50, were sentenced after subjecting three children to years of maltreatment between 2003 and 2012. The victims were beaten, starved and psychologically tormented at an address in Balloch, Dunbartonshire, and at a flat on Aberdeen’s Bedford Avenue. Freeman and Stephen were previously found guilty of cruel and unnatural treatment, while McColl admitted the crimes. At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Sheriff Craig Findlater said nary condemnation could "repair the atrocious childhoods" of the trio's victims. McColl received 220 hours of unpaid work, 18 months probation and an 11‑month regularisation of liberty order, described as a nonstop alternative to custody. Stephen was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and serve 18 months probation. Freeman was given 18 months probation, 240 hours of unpaid work and a 12‑month regularisation of liberty order, also characterised as a nonstop alternative to custody. During proceedings it was heard that Freeman, now residing in Cullen, Moray, had created a "house of terror" for the children. Two of the victims, William and Meaghan Murphy, now aged 25 and 28, told BBC Scotland News "the unit and cruelty they experienced arsenic children became their mean reality." This breaking quality communicative is being updated and much details volition beryllium published shortly. Please refresh the leafage for the fullest version. You tin person Breaking News connected a smartphone oregon tablet via the BBC News App. You tin besides travel @BBCBreaking connected X to get the latest alerts.