In Perth, Australia, the parents of a 20-year-old woman were convicted of child abuse because they kept her under strict dieting and control for years with the intention of keeping her small and dependent and referred to her as their "little girl forever." The couple lived in a suburb of Perth and were found guilty of starving their daughter to such an extent that she suffered from severe malnourishment.
The girl at 16 had weighed just 27 kg and was in a condition so alarming that she required hospitalization with tube feeding. Her parents’ actions were deemed harmful not only physically but even emotionally as they kept her under isolation and wouldn't give her any opportunity for social growth or independent function.
The parents went to extremes to ensure their daughter remained as dependent and child like as possible. They would dress her in preschool clothes even at the age of 16, with the intent of making her appear far younger than she was, and modify her birth certificate to make her look even younger. They also filled her room with toys meant for younger children and made sure her entertainment and activities were those of a preschooler with a motive to keep her in a perpetual state of childhood.
The teenager needed help with basic tasks, such as using the restroom and brushing her teeth. Her mother continued to assist her with dressing and grooming, further preventing her from gaining independence.
The case came out when the ballet teachers reported an unhealthy weight that this girl carried on, resulting in uncovering abuse and neglect towards her.
When passing the sentence, Judge Linda Black pronounced the stern verdict of her opinion on the parents by accusing them of their act. "You put your own opinions ahead of what was best for your daughter. You have created a child who is not able to function as an independent adult at the age of more than 20 years old. She’s never been allowed to grow up," Judge Black remarked, as quoted by Daily Mail. As a result, the parents were sentenced to six years in prison.
Despite the convictions, the young woman, who was nearly 17 at the time, showed deep emotional conflict. She sobbed when her parents' sentences were announced and stated in a statement to the court that she didn’t believe they had done anything wrong. “I don’t think they’ve harmed me in any way,” she told the judge, showing just how much influence her parents had over her perception of reality.
The parents' lawyers defended their clients by stating that their obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) played a role in their actions, making their behavior permissible. However, the court rejected this defense and focused on the clear harm caused to their daughter's well-being.
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