Boyfriend, 37, jailed for making his lover’s young children beg for meals and bathe in ice cubes

A ‘sadistic’ boyfriend has been jailed for making his lover’s young children beg for meals, bathe in ice cubes and stare at walls for hours. 

Gary Martin Davies, 37, took ‘sadistic pleasure’ in the cruelty he meted out to the young brother and sister. 

Describing the abuse as ‘grotesque,’ an appalled judge heard he forced them to sleep, without blankets in the bathroom, or make them spend the night in a cupboard.

Their ordeal only came to light when the scared siblings told teachers they were afraid to go home because of what their mum’s boyfriend might do to them.

Davies pleaded guilty to two counts of child cruelty which took place at the family’s home in Carlisle, Cumbria.

He was jailed for five years and eleven months, with a judge imposing a two-year extended licence period, making a total sentence of seven years and eleven months.

Gary Davies took ‘sadistic pleasure’ in making his girlfriend’s children bathe in ice cubes, beg for their meals and sleep in the bathroom of heir Carlisle home without any blankets 

The Cumbria Police detective who oversaw the investigation described the ordeal endured by the children as ‘harrowing’.

Jailing Davies for five years and eleven months, Judge Nicholas Barker said: ‘The grotesque ill-treatment is a catalogue of sadistic behaviour.

‘You would cause them to stand against a wall for up to two hours, a couple of days a week.

‘You caused them to sleep on the bathroom floor and if their mother wanted to cover them with a towel you visited retribution on her.

‘You made them have cold baths and added ice cubes to it.’

The angry judge added: ‘You were well aware of the fear you were importing into those children.

‘You will be well aware of how they reacted to you – no doubt with utter terror.

‘Given that you did not temper your behaviour, you must have obtained sadistic pleasure from it.

‘Both children suffered significant mental health problems.

‘It’s hard to see genuine remorse. You are a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public.’ 

Prosecutor Tim Evans said the children’s unnamed mother entered into a relationship with Davies and set up home with him in Carlisle, Cumbria.

But Mr Evans said: ‘Matters came to light when the children reported to their teachers they were frightened to go home.’

The court heard the staff had already noticed various behaviour issues with the children – particularly that they always seemed hungry.

Mr Evans said: ‘They were forced to the indignity of begging for their food.

‘And it seems, from the reaction of the teachers, not given sufficient even when forced to beg.

‘In the final week before police and social services became involved they were deprived of food almost in its entirety.’

Davies at times ‘dragged’ the girl to the bathroom, would swear at them and tried to humiliate the boy by ridiculing him. 

Davies has a long history of violence, with several convictions for assault.

Davies' cruelty was described as 'grotesque' at Carlisle Crown Court, where it was revealed the abuse only came to light after his victims told their teacher they were scared to go home

Davies’ cruelty was described as ‘grotesque’ at Carlisle Crown Court, where it was revealed the abuse only came to light after his victims told their teacher they were scared to go home 

Mr Evans, who said Davies told the kids’ mum she was not ‘punishing them properly’, added: ‘These children were significantly more damaged after this defendant was involved than before.’

Jeff Smith, for Davies, who admitted two offences of child cruelty, said ‘He concedes his behaviour was entirely inappropriate.

‘He concedes his life has not been filled with virtue. He knows he must be punished.’

DC Julie Ross, who oversaw the investigation, said: ‘This terrible abuse has had a huge impact on the children’s emotional, physical and mental wellbeing.

‘As the judge said, this abuse was harrowing and made their lives wretched.

‘They have been robbed of the opportunity to enjoy a happy or normal childhood as a result.

‘Cumbria Constabulary always takes all such offending seriously and all complaints will be investigated thoroughly, with all victims provided with the necessary support and safeguarding.

‘We hope this sentence today sends out a strong message.’