RICKY WINTER AND KRISTINA DAVIES SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IN MARGATE AND CANTERBURY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Margate and Canterbury, a couple responsible for the severe abuse of two young boys has been sentenced to prison. The incident, which took place at their home on Ethlebert Crescent in Cliftonville, involved a series of brutal and systematic acts of cruelty that left the children with injuries described by medical professionals as 'horrific.'

Ricky Winter, aged 22, and his girlfriend Kristina Davies, aged 20, faced justice after a trial at Canterbury Crown Court. The couple, residing on Canterbury Road in Margate, attempted to dismiss the injuries as accidental, claiming the boys had been injured during playfighting, falling off beds, or slipping in a rock pool. However, the evidence presented in court painted a far more sinister picture.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Simon James detailed the extent of the injuries sustained by the children. The older boy had multiple bruises across at least 14 different areas of his body, including his face, ear, chin, back, and even his penis. The injuries also included an ear injury consistent with pinching and at least two adult bite marks on his buttocks. The severity of these injuries indicated a pattern of sustained abuse rather than accidental harm.

The younger boy was found to have suffered from a range of injuries as well, including bruising to his eye and ear, a fractured collarbone, and bite marks on his bottom. Medical experts confirmed that the injuries to both children were inflicted with significant force, with one paediatrician describing the injuries as 'horrific.' The judge emphasized that the injury to the older child's shoulder would have required 'brutal force,' underscoring the violent nature of the abuse.

Throughout the trial, Ricky Winter refused to look at photographs of the injuries, claiming they made him feel sick. Despite his refusal, the court heard that the abuse was not an isolated incident but part of a systematic pattern of cruelty. The couple's home environment was described as abusive and controlling, where the children were subjected to shouting, swearing, threats, and forced displays of obedience, such as crying on demand and kissing their feet to entertain the defendants.

According to the judge, the boys were made to stand with their hands on their heads for extended periods, often sobbing and appearing terrified. The court found that the regime of discipline went far beyond reasonable chastisement, amounting to systematic and calculated cruelty. The couple had been asked to care for the boys on short notice, expecting only a brief stay, but during their ten-day care period, the abuse escalated into repeated assaults and neglect, with no attempt made to seek medical help for the injured children.

Judge James condemned the couple's actions, stating that neither showed remorse or insight into the potential damage caused. He highlighted the sadistic undertones of the injuries, including bites and wounds inflicted as acts of cruelty and dominance. The court concluded that the defendants' loyalty to each other appeared to take precedence over the safety and well-being of the children.

As a result, Kristina Davies was sentenced to serve her term at a young offenders institution, while Ricky Winter was sentenced to imprisonment. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and the devastating consequences of systematic abuse within a home environment in Margate and Canterbury.