Judge Linda Black remarked on the unsuitable environment in their family home, noting that the entertainment available to her was more appropriate for toddlers, including shows like Teletubbies and Frozen.
The judge condemned the two parents as she sentenced them (WA District Court)
In November 2024, her father received a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence, while her mother was sentenced to five years.
Their incarceration starkly contrasts the affluent lifestyle they led in a wealthy Perth suburb.
Despite her parents’ horrific treatment, which included her father falsifying her birth certificate to keep her age a secret, the now-20-year-old penned a letter to the judge, requesting she drop the charges.
“I’m entirely reliant on my parents. They cover all my expenses—clothing, food, and funds as needed. They’re paying my university fees,” she wrote.
“I love my parents deeply. They mean everything to me. If they go to prison, I’m not sure how I would manage.”
The court heard her father was in denial, stating his daughter was just a ‘picky eater’ and was served three meals and snacks daily.
He suggested her weight issues might stem from her choice to adopt a vegetarian diet at eight, later becoming completely vegan in her teens.
The teen only socialized with other children during ballet classes (District Court of Western Australia)
His attorney, Oliver Paxman, argued that the young woman’s condition wasn’t his client’s fault.
“This case was never about withholding food from a child,” he told CNN.
“My client didn’t starve her; he loved and pampered her. She could eat as much as she wanted. The issue was insufficient nutrition from a vegan diet.”
However, Judge Black disagreed, asserting during sentencing that it was “not about a malnourished ballerina.”
She added, “You isolated your daughter; you stunted her growth and development, keeping her in a childlike state long past when she should have matured.”
If you have been affected by this situation or want to discuss concerns regarding a child’s welfare confidentially, please contact the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453), available 24/7.
Featured Image Credit: South Wales Police
