CHILD NEGLECT SHAME

Her lawyers argued at the Criminal Appeal Court, in London, that she had “spiralled into depression” and had been unable to cope with working as well as looking after children and thehouse.

But rejecting the pleas for mercy and throwing out her appeal, the judges said the house had been a “pig sty” and there had been “protracted neglect”.

During the original sentencing hearing in July, Judge Stephen Earl told the pair: “Frankly, how they managed to survive in your care is somewhat in question.

“It is appalling that you lived in this situation, never mind brought up children in it.

“This is protracted neglect over a lengthy period of time.”

Defence barristers told the court the parents had been struggling with their own issues at the time and their situation got out of hand and urged the judge to suspend the prison sentences.

But he refused, saying: “Such that the message is sent appropriately that children are probably one of the greatest assets that a society has.

“The way in which these children were ill-treated and neglected deserves an immediate custodial sentence.”

Judge Earl questioned how those who saw the children every day outside of their home did not raise any concerns.

He said: “Didn’t school notice that these children were in an appalling state?

“It is reported that these children had had lice, serious head lice for two years or more.”

The judge said it “beggars belief” that their plight was not brought to the attention of the authorities earlier.

He added: “I have serious concerns about how we allowed this