In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Matthew Avenell, 40, of Hull, East Yorkshire, was jailed for two years for the horrific and prolonged neglect of two young boys. On appearing at Hull Crown Court, the defendant admitted to five counts of child neglect, which included failing to provide food, clothing, or basic hygiene. It was reported that Avenell, a heroin addict, kept the children in a “pigsty” environment littered with drug paraphernalia and bottles of urine while he focused entirely on his addiction.
The investigation established that the boys were frequently locked inside the property without a key or a phone to call for help. Humberside Police reported that when officers entered the house, they found the children living in squalor with no running water to flush toilets or wash. The prosecution reported that the eldest boy would often only eat when at school and described Avenell taking “black and brown” drugs in front of them, which left him in a dozy state.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Avenell’s lifestyle was entirely self-centred and revolved around his heroin use. Hull Crown Court heard how he had even smacked the eldest boy with a shoe for asking to leave the house, leaving the child with bruises on his arms and legs. The investigation established that while the children starved, Avenell was out attempting to rob a woman at a cash machine to fund his next fix. At the time of his sentencing for neglect, he was already serving 27 months for that attempted robbery.
Judge Penelope Belcher noted that Avenell had “failed utterly” to protect the children, stating that they could have easily died from ingesting the drugs he left lying around the house. For his actions in Hull, Avenell was handed a two-year sentence. The judge noted that the neglect was repeated and prolonged, significantly affecting the mental wellbeing of the victims, one of whom required counselling to process the trauma of his ordeal.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Matthew Avenell is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: Two years for neglect (2019); 27 months for attempted robbery (2019).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Hull Crown Court following a Humberside Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Five counts of child neglect; Physical assault; Attempted robbery.
- Support: The victims were placed under the care of Social Services and received professional counselling.
- Origin: Hull, East Yorkshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Avenell is managed by the National Probation Service in East Yorkshire. Due to the serious nature of the neglect and the physical assault on a child in Hull, his management includes strict conditions regarding his contact with minors. Authorities state that his history of prioritizeing heroin over the lives of children makes him a high-risk individual who requires significant supervision to ensure he does not have unsupervised access to vulnerable people in the future.
As a convicted offender for child cruelty, Avenell’s details remain on the police national computer. Authorities state that his history in Hull of locking children in a drug-filled house necessitates permanent awareness among safeguarding agencies. Any future reports of drug misuse or involvement with children in East Yorkshire or elsewhere will result in immediate intervention by police and social services to prevent a repeat of the “horrifying” neglect uncovered in 2019.
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