Det Insp Charles King, who led the investigation,

Det Insp Charles King, who led the investigation, described the crimes as an ‘unimaginable horror.

‘

He agreed with Judge Coombe’s comments: ‘It was very unusual and very disturbing for the most experienced detectives at Hounslow.

‘It is something I have never come across in 20 years of police work.

It is extremely unusual and shocking.

‘In my view it is just an unimaginable horror what went on in that flat.

‘It is a scene from hell.

The smell, the screaming, the father crying in pain.

It is a scene from hell for me.

I just can’t begin to imagine what went on in that flat.

‘

Mr King said the children are still in foster care but improving greatly with help from the social services.

He added that the parents, who were not in court to hear the verdicts, will ‘certainly be pleased about the convictions and the facts they have been able to get across.

‘It was a difficult investigation because the victims were very vulnerable.

They had learning difficulties.

‘The two children were very young.

It took a lot of hard work and a lot of organisation from Det Con Sid Shenoy, and other police officers, because they could not tell a story naturally.

‘

Robert Davenport, 18, had admitted four charges of assault causing actual bodily harm, conspiracy to assault, making threats to kill and incitement to steal.

The 16-year-old had pleaded guilty to three charges of assault causing actual bodily harm, conspiracy to assault, incitement to steal and making threats to kill.

Of all the charges that of making threats to kill carries the harshest penalty – a maximum sentence of 10 years.

But while Davenport qualifies for the maximum term the two younger teenagers can only be sentenced to two years custody at the most because they are juveniles.

ends

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