Hoarders Given Suspended Sentence For Child Cruelty

11 May 2013, 06:00

A couple from Bedfordshire have been given a suspended jail sentence for making their children live in a house full of clutter.

The man and women, both in their forties, pleaded guilty to four charges in what's thought to be the first prosecution for hoarding.

The court heard that there were piles of clothes in the bedrooms and toys and other items from car boot sales all over the house. 

Police and social workers who went to the three-bedroom terraced property found the youngsters were eating their meals on the stairs because the kitchen was so cluttered.

The judge at the Old Bailey furiously told them they were lucky he was not jailing them immediately.

As well as a six months jail suspended for two years, they were also ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work each.