THORNABY CHILD NEGLECT CASE: GILLIAN HENDRY AND CRAIG DICK SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC ABUSE

A tragic case of severe child neglect has come to light in Thornaby, where a 12-year-old boy was subjected to such extreme conditions that he eventually lost sight in one eye. The young boy, who endured years of neglect at the hands of his mother, Gillian Hendry, and her partner, Craig Dick, was so desperate for help that he once scrawled the words ‘help me’ on a wall inside his home. Despite this clear cry for assistance, authorities failed to intervene on multiple occasions, allowing the situation to deteriorate further.

For years, the boy and his two-year-old sister were kept in squalid, unhygienic conditions within their home. Their mother, who relies on benefits, and her partner appeared indifferent to the children’s worsening health and living environment. The neglect was so severe that the boy developed a cataract in his left eye, which ultimately led to blindness, after his parents neglected to take him to necessary hospital appointments that could have preserved his sight. Additionally, he was observed walking with a limp, a symptom of arthritis caused by the filthy, mold-infested conditions of their home. The boy was also burdened with the responsibility of caring for his younger sister, a situation that further highlighted the neglect and lack of proper parental care.

The disturbing state of the children’s living environment was uncovered during a series of investigations. In August of the previous year, social workers visited the property in Thornaby and noticed the words ‘help me’ written on a wall outside the boy’s bedroom. When questioned, Gillian Hendry admitted to a social worker that her son had written the message during their visit. The social services’ report revealed a long history of missed opportunities to help the children, dating back to 2007. Despite repeated concerns raised by school staff and health professionals, no effective intervention was made at the time.

In 2009, hospital consultant Dr Fiona Clark warned that the boy’s failure to attend vital medical appointments could result in permanent disability. However, social services did not act on this warning. It was only in 2010, when a school nurse visited the home and found it infested with mice, lacking heating and hot water, that the authorities intervened. Although conditions appeared to improve temporarily, subsequent visits failed to recognize the ongoing neglect, and the case was closed. Further concerns were raised again in September 2011 when the boy moved to a different property, but social workers decided not to conduct a thorough assessment after school staff reported no further issues. It was not until a general practitioner’s intervention last year that the full extent of the boy’s health problems was acknowledged.

In August 2014, the couple’s neglect culminated in their arrest and subsequent conviction. When social workers and police arrived at the house on 21 August, they were met with resistance; Hendry and Dick refused entry. The police had to be called, and upon inspection, the conditions inside the home were shocking. The house was filthy, with food debris and bin bags filled with dirty nappies strewn across the staircase. The children’s bedding was moldy and damp, and the kitchen was infested with flies. The bathroom and toilet were in a deplorable state, filled with cold, dirty water, and a bedroom had been converted into a makeshift toilet. The boy’s left eye was white, indicating blindness, and he was unable to see out of it. The girl, who was fathered by Dick, was kept in similarly appalling conditions, prompting immediate removal into care. The boy now resides with his biological father, while the girl is being considered for adoption.

During the court proceedings, the defense highlighted the alleged mental health issues of the parents. Gillian Hendry’s lawyer claimed her depression was the only explanation for her neglect, although no medical evidence supported this assertion. Craig Dick’s defense described him as an inadequate individual incapable of caring for his children properly. The judge, Howard Crowson, condemned the conditions depicted in police photographs, describing them as “appalling” and emphasizing that the neglect appeared to stem from inadequacy rather than deliberate cruelty. Both Hendry and Dick pleaded guilty to child neglect charges and were sentenced to prison—Hendry received two and a half years, while Dick was sentenced to two years and two months.

This case has prompted a serious review by the Stockton Local Safeguarding Children Board to understand how such prolonged neglect went unnoticed and unaddressed for so many years. MP Alex Cunningham expressed his concern, stating, “This has been a tragic situation for this young boy and it is clear that there needs to be a full and detailed inquiry into why he was let down.” The authorities involved in the case have acknowledged the failures and are now under pressure to improve safeguarding measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.