A sick couple imprisoned epileptic man till he starved to death

[AB Asks]

A man was locked in a garden shed for four months where he was tortured and fed only potato skins. Eventually he collapsed and died on the kitchen floor of his captors � a couple who had 'befriended' him. The poor man's family knew nothing about his ordeal as he was allowed to phone them - he told them he was keeping well. What do you think? This man had learning difficulties and epilepsy, would you believe that things were well or would you want to see your see your son to make sure?

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, i saw the interview with his parents on tv.
I feel sorry for them, but at the same time i was wondering why they didnt take as much care of him as they should. If he had learning difficulties, then surely they should keep a closer eye on him.
The people that did this obviously have mental issues.
I hope they get what they deserve in prison. But judging by some peoples answers on here, they will want them to be released early just in case they get mad and go and do it to someone else...

[NJOK]

Don't be bashful, Mr Ben. You don't mean 'some people', you mean me. :-)

x

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, not just you NJOK :)
There are a lot worse do-gooders than you on here :)
Dont be so paranoid... ; )

[jno]

sure are a lot of perfect parents on AB; they've told the McCanns what they should have done with Maddie, they've explained how people should have paid flood insurance well in advance, and they still have time to complain about Gordon Brown. Would that I had their life skills.

[NJOK]

If you say so!

Only "just in case they get mad and go and do it to someone else..." is a blatant rehash of a discussion we'd been having just a few minutes ago.

Good for you though. Move on. :-)

[Neilzulu1]

This is perhaps the most bizarre story i have seen over the past few months. Terrible set of events, i think the sentence should have been stronger.

What i can not understand is , why did no one hear him call out ? As the shed was right next to a path and in the middle of a set of gardens.

[gina32]

if he was tortured and learning difficulties he may well have been threatened and told not to shout out otherwisewe will do so and so to you, we will never know, bless him

[ruby27]

I haven't seen the report on this so I may change my views on further information, but until then

First of all, many adult children have all sorts of health needs and parents wouldn't necessarily expect to see their child between 4 months, who may live in their own house, have a job and have their own kids, live in this country or another.

Learning disability/needs. Presumably again the parents expected their son and he expected to be living independently, so were not necessarily being neglectful because they hadn't seen him for 4 months. I am sure my parents haven't always seen me every 4 months, not when I was young and busy. and believed I was ok when I told them I was. Parents who have children with learning needs are encouraged to encourage their child to be as independent as possible, to develop their full potential.

[Goodsoulette]

i think the problem is that once a child with learning difficulties is 21 they are out of the system. In some special cases you can keep them in school til they are 25, thats when the council are supposed to fund full time education til but it often doesnt work that way unless they have an excellent social worker fighting their corner. Also parents are not made aware of this.

More assesments by doctors, social workers and other professionals were needed certainly at least a couple in 2 months and a better community atmosphere. I wonder how many neighbours though something odd was happening but said nothing.

[smudge]

I read this story yesterday morning & it made me feel quite sick! There are some truly cruel, evil people on this planet, that don't deserve to breath in air......

Anyway, this lad's parents said they were totally unaware of how their son was being treated, otherwise they'd have asked him to come back home to live with them.

A very sad case.