A ‘sadistic’ woman who took tortured and physically abused children in a campaign of cruelty was jailed for 15 years today.
Cheryl Pickles, 35, took ‘full part’ in the horrific mistreatment of youngsters alongside her paedophile partner Andrew Hadwin, 39.
Passing sentence at Teesside Crown Court, Judge Timothy Stead said the ‘cruelty was over many, many months and in a variety of ways’.
He said she had carried out ‘multiple incidents of serious cruelty’ and her treatment of child victims was ‘sadistic’.
Judge Stead told her: ‘You are emotionless and have shown neither empathy nor remorse.’
Cheryl Pickles, 35, took ‘full part’ in the horrific mistreatment of the children alongside her partner Andrew Hadwin
Andrew Hadwin and Cheryl Pickles committed sustained abuse against the children. Hadwin, 39, was found dead in his prison cell in February
Hadwin was found dead in his prison cell while awaiting sentence in February, and the cause of his death is yet to be established.
The trial of Pickles and Hadwin heard how Hadwin was reported to police in 2015 for the sexual abuse of a girl.
After an investigation involving police and social services, he was freed without charge and went on to commit appalling offences of torture and physical abuse on other child victims.
Following the decision not to prosecute, Hadwin began a relationship with Pickles.
The pair were partners in crime during the later campaign of abuse against the children.
The couple tormented children by starving them, feeding them soap and rinsing mouths with shampoo, forcing them into boiling hot showers and pouring freezing water over their head.
They shut the children in a cupboard and made them stand in ‘stress’ positions, such as crouching or balancing on one leg, for hours on end.
A youngster was even held under water in the bath by Pickles to the point of turning blue.
A second police inquiry was launched by the Durham force in 2018 that ultimately led to the pair being brought to justice. Hadwin was also convicted of raping and sexually abusing his first victim.
Their seven-week trial at Teesside Crown Court ended with Hadwin being found guilty of rape, child cruelty and perverting the course of justice. Pickles was convicted of child cruelty and perverting the course of justice.
Hadwin was then found dead in his prison cell at HMP Durham. An initial post mortem examination did not reveal the cause of death.
A jury found Hadwin guilty after a seven-week trial at Teesside Crown Court
Today proceedings against him were formally stayed while Pickles stood alone in the Teesside court dock.
Miss Richardson said Pickles had no previous convictions and no involvement with social services before starting a relationship with Hadwin.
She accepted that she ‘wouldn’t have offended’ but for meeting Hadwin.
However, the evidence showed she was not controlled by her partner and took a ‘full part’ in the mistreatment and abuse.
The judge even said she sometimes took the lead, remarking in reference to her role: ‘On occasions more than a full part in what was going on.’
Miss Richardson said Pickles was ‘anxious and willing to shield Hadwin’ from the authorities and lied about their relationship to police.
Outlining the offences , Miss Richardson said the young child victims were subjected to ‘sadistic’ behaviour.
One child who was put in boiling hot showers was treated for hand burns and standing in a ‘stress position’ for prolonged periods had a permanently affect the child, the court heard.
Another suffered from a fear of water after being held under the water in baths and now suffers seizures. The child’s current carer commented: ‘We feel there will be a lifelong impact as a result of the trauma suffered.’
Hadwin would hit children with his belt and a stick he used to walk with was another weapon. One victim still suffers nightmares about the sound of the crutch on the floor signalling he was approaching to inflict misery.
The children were deprived of food, clothing and toys.
They had so little to eat that two of them went out scavenging for food during the early hours, crossing a road in their night clothes on the way to a supermarket before thankfully police intervened.
To add to their misery both Pickles and Hadwin ‘spent large sums on takeaways and ate them in front of them,’ she said.
She said they were also ‘brain-washed’ to stop them from reporting the incidents to police.
And all the victims would ‘require ongoing lifelong support.’
Alison Foster, a consultant psychologist, said they were at high risk of suicide and self-harm.
The offences of perverting the course of justice related to the defendants producing forged letters they claimed had been written by a child admitting to telling lies about them and apologising.
Hadwin and his partner Cheryl Pickles (pictured) tormented children over several years
Tony Davis, for Pickles, told the judge it was clear Hadwin was a ‘manipulative and controlling individual.’
‘She fell in love with the wrong person,’ he said.
A woman who was raped and abused as a child by Hadwin revealed today that she cried ‘happy tears’ when she learned of his death.
The girl, who cannot be named, first reported Hadwin to police in 2015 for serious sexual abuse. In a statement read to Teesside Crown Court she said she felt she was ‘made out to be a liar by police and social services’.
The Crown Prosecution Service decided at the time to take no action against Hadwin, who went on to commit a campaign of cruelty and abuse against other children.
The rape victim spoke to police again in 2019 when a fresh inquiry was launched by Durham Police that ultimately led to Hadwin being convicted.
In her statement, she said she ‘felt guilty’ and that felt that ‘if [she] had spoken out more and given better evidence’ the abuse of other children may have been prevented.
‘It broke my heart to know other children have also been hurt,’ she said, adding that she believed ‘it was my fault because I was too scared’.
Pictured are Andrew Hadwin and Cheryl Pickles. The pair were partners-in-crime for the later campaign of abuse
She said she felt ‘relief’ her nine-year ordeal was over, commenting: ‘Today I am standing stronger than ever.’
In a message to her dead abuser, she went on: ‘I can rest knowing you can never hurt anyone ever again. I am free.’
Judge Timothy Stead described the brave victim’s statement as ‘extraordinary’ and said anyone listening to it would cause ‘profound sympathy’.
He said: ‘She shouldn’t blame herself for anything that has befallen her or anybody else.’
Adding: ‘The blame lies with Andrew Hadwin who was a wicked and cruel man.’
The judge formally stayed proceedings against Hadwin.
An initial post-mortem examination on Hadwin did not reveal a cause of death and more tests have been carried out. An inquest into his death will be held at a later date.
Pickles was found guilty of five counts of child cruelty and one of perverting the course of justice. She was found not guilty of sexual activity with a child.
Pickles was jailed for 15 years today at Teesside Crown Court (pictured)
Speaking today, Investigative Officer, Detective Constable Kat Pudney, from Durham Constabulary, said: ‘The children involved in this case have been subjected to unimaginable levels of cruelty and abuse.
‘Despite their experiences in their early lives, they have shown bravery and tenacity beyond their years, standing up to their abusers through the judicial process and allowing a jury to see exactly what the couple had done to them.
‘One of Hadwin’s victims, who is now an adult, showed him that what he did to her, although having a profound effect on her, was not going to rule her life.
‘Pickles will now serve a significant sentence for this abuse.’
She added: ‘The safeguarding and wellbeing of children is everyone’s business. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, please speak out – your actions could save a life.
‘You can report suspected abuse or concerns to Durham Constabulary by calling 101, or 999 if life is in immediate danger. Alternatively, reports can be made completely anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
‘Concerns can also be reported to Durham County Council on 03000 267 979, or Darlington Borough Council on 01325 406222.’