Sentencing guidelines for people convicted of child cruelty have been updated to ensure judges can hand down tougher terms following the case of a boy abused so badly by his birth parents that he needed both legs amputated.
Tougher sentencing for child abusers came into force in June, meaning anyone who causes or allows the death of a child or vulnerable adult in their household can now be given up to life in prison – increased from the previous 14-year maximum.
