Couple accused of abusing children at home with 'dead pet in freezer'

A couple are to face trial accused of subjecting five children in their care to a catalogue of neglect and abuse over eleven years.

The man and woman are said to have compelled the children, whose ages ranged from birth to 14 years old, to live in “squalid” conditions at a house in Falkirk.

It is said that the house had inadequate furnishings and rubbish and dog excrement on the floors, insufficient food and drink, and a “deceased family pet” stored in the freezer.

The alleged maltreatment is said to have included compelling a child to eat excrement. Two children were allegedly assaulted.

The three youngest children are said to have been neglected from the age of one or birth and compelled to spend “excessive” periods in their cots with heavily saturated nappies.

The couple are said to have failed to ensure attendance at children’s medical appointments, school and nursery, left older children to care for younger children without adult supervision and to prepare food for them using kitchen equipment also without adult supervision, and rendered themselves incapable of looking after the children due to their consumption of alcohol and unknown medications.

It’s also alleged they failed to engage with social workers in relation to the children’s safety and wellbeing and instructed the oldest two children not to reveal details of their home life to professionals.

The offences are said to have been committed between February 2011 and February 2022.

At Stirling Sheriff Court on Tuesday, both denied the charges against them. A trial was set to begin on February 24, with a pre-trial hearing on January 22.

For legal reasons, none of the children can be identified.