No Jail for Man who Tormented Children
Friday, 13th December 2002.
A MAN has escaped jail after admitting a catalogue of physical abuse against three children.
Andrew Pugh walked free from court after a judge sentenced the 35-year-old to a 160-hour community punishment order.
Ipswich Crown Court heard how Pugh hit one of the children with a hairbrush, causing a cut to her head.
On other occasions, Pugh, of Covehite Court, Haverhill, held the girl and threw her down some stairs.
"The defendant would regularly shout and swear at her, losing his temper," said Peter Gair, prosecuting.
"He would punch walls, causing dents."
Another of the victims, a 15-year-old boy, was regularly hit by Pugh, said Mr Gair.
The other boy was subjected to shouting and swearing, which made it difficult for him to sleep at night.
According to Mr Gair, the offences against the children, now aged 11, 14 and 15, occurred over a period of years.
Matters came to light when the eldest child revealed the mistreatment at school.
It was referred to social services who then interviewed the children.
Defence barrister Mark Roochove said Pugh was "extremely remorseful" over what had occurred.
In sentencing Pugh, Judge Nicholas Beddard said offences of child cruelty over a period of years normally called for a custodial sentence.
But the judge told him: "It seems to me that your offending was the result of a temporary loss of control rather than calculated acts of cruelty, which one so often sees in offences like this."
Judge Beddard warned Pugh he would definitely face a custodial sentence if he had to be re-sentenced.
Andrew Pugh walked free from court after a judge sentenced the 35-year-old to a 160-hour community punishment order.
Ipswich Crown Court heard how Pugh hit one of the children with a hairbrush, causing a cut to her head.
On other occasions, Pugh, of Covehite Court, Haverhill, held the girl and threw her down some stairs.
"The defendant would regularly shout and swear at her, losing his temper," said Peter Gair, prosecuting.
"He would punch walls, causing dents."
Another of the victims, a 15-year-old boy, was regularly hit by Pugh, said Mr Gair.
The other boy was subjected to shouting and swearing, which made it difficult for him to sleep at night.
According to Mr Gair, the offences against the children, now aged 11, 14 and 15, occurred over a period of years.
Matters came to light when the eldest child revealed the mistreatment at school.
It was referred to social services who then interviewed the children.
Defence barrister Mark Roochove said Pugh was "extremely remorseful" over what had occurred.
In sentencing Pugh, Judge Nicholas Beddard said offences of child cruelty over a period of years normally called for a custodial sentence.
But the judge told him: "It seems to me that your offending was the result of a temporary loss of control rather than calculated acts of cruelty, which one so often sees in offences like this."
Judge Beddard warned Pugh he would definitely face a custodial sentence if he had to be re-sentenced.
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