Sentence on 'torturers' is attacked

Sherie Aspden, 28, of Swarcliffe, Leeds, whose eight-year- old son Neil was tortured by two teenagers when he refused to shoplift with them, yesterday described sentences on the pair as 'outrageous'.

The 13-year-old boys dragged Neil to a shed in woods near his home, locked him in and beat him, Leeds Youth Court was told on Friday. Magistrates ignored a report which said the boys should be put into council care and ordered they attend a special centre for 24 hours and pay pounds 30 costs.