Stepfather jailed after forcing boy to sleep in straitjacket

An 11-year-old boy's parents have been jailed after forcing him to sleep in a straitjacket, surgical collar and special helmet. The youngster's stepfather, who had an interest in bondage, reportedly believed that restraining the boy, who suffered from behavioral problems, would help him sleep better. He also wrongly believed that the boy suffered from autism, despite a doctor saying this was not the case.

Both the stepfather and the boy's mother pleaded guilty to child cruelty at Doncaster Crown Court. The stepfather was jailed for three years, while the boy's mum was locked up for two years for allowing the abuse to continue. Judge Jacqueline Davies said: 'What happened to this young man over a period is that he was physically restrained in the most appalling way.

'It is difficult for any normal human being to understand how you could have done this to any human being.' However, the stepfather's lawyer, Tina Dempster, said that the man's behavior was due to his desire to help the youngster. 'To him it was a natural development because it seemed to be working,' she said.

'There is no sadism in this case and no element of concealment.' The boy is now residing with a foster family and the judge ordered the equipment to be destroyed. Speaking to reporters, one of the family's neighbors said they had no idea something like this had been going on in the house.