MARY-LOUISA ANDREWS SENTENCED IN SOUTHPORT FOR FAILURE TO PROTECT DAUGHTER FROM ABUSE

A woman named Mary-Louisa Andrews from Southport has had her prison sentence increased after a judge determined that her initial punishment was too lenient given the severity of her involvement in a disturbing criminal case. Originally, Andrews was sentenced to three years behind bars for her role in a heinous series of events involving her husband, Anoyke Andrews, who was convicted of sexually abusing their young daughter and impregnating her three times, starting when she was only 12 years old.

Despite being aware of the abuse, Andrews failed to take any action to stop her husband's heinous acts. Her conviction was for allowing the ongoing cruelty to persist, effectively turning a blind eye to her child's suffering. Following an appeal filed by prosecutors, her sentence was increased to five years in prison, reflecting the gravity of her neglect and complicity in the case.

Her husband, Anoyke Andrews, was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year after a jury found him guilty of impregnating his stepdaughter. The young girl, who has chosen to be publicly identified to shed light on her ordeal, was subjected to sexual abuse starting at age 10 during a holiday in Southport. The abuse continued until she was 16, with her first pregnancy occurring when she was just 12 years old.

The court proceedings revealed that the girl repeatedly begged her mother for help, but her pleas went unheard or ignored. The judge, Francis Sheridan, described Andrews as 'wicked' and criticized her for her lack of compassion and failure to protect her daughter. During the sentencing, the judge remarked that Andrews's tears appeared to be for herself rather than for her suffering child, condemning her for betraying her daughter's trust and allowing her to endure a 'life of hell.'

Detective Constable Tejinder Sidhu expressed satisfaction with the increased sentence, emphasizing the police’s commitment to thoroughly investigating cases of sexual abuse with sensitivity. Sidhu highlighted the importance of justice for victims and the need to hold perpetrators accountable, especially when family members fail to act in the face of such horrific crimes.