Cruel foster carer from Motherwell avoids prison after conviction of ill-treatment towards children

Cruel Foster Carer from Motherwell Escapes Prison Sentence

A former foster carer from Motherwell, Angela Hassan, has been sentenced after being found guilty of ill-treatment towards children in her care. The 78-year-old was convicted of cruel and unnatural treatment of two girls and a boy, with some of the offences dating back to the 1970s. The incidents, which included physical abuse, took place at houses in Craigneuk. After a trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court, Hassan was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative to a prison sentence. Sheriff Michael Higgins also imposed 15 months of social work supervision on Hassan.

During the sentencing, Sheriff Higgins highlighted the profound impact of Hassan’s actions on the children in her care, emphasizing their right to be looked after properly and in a safe environment. Despite Hassan’s denial of any wrongdoing and her protest of innocence during interviews, the jury rejected her claims. Nevertheless, as this was her first encounter with the criminal justice system and with no prior offending, the sheriff determined that a community payback order would be a suitable punishment, given her estimated positive contribution to the lives of vulnerable children.

Hassan was granted 15 months to complete the unpaid work order, with the sheriff acknowledging the gravity of the offences but opting for a non-custodial sentence due to her lack of prior convictions. Sheriff Higgins deemed Hassan at minimal risk of re-offending and recognised her long tenure as a foster carer looking after hundreds of children. He highlighted the importance of a safe and respectful environment for children in care, concluding that although the custodial threshold had been crossed, a community payback order was a fitting alternative.

In summary, Angela Hassan, a former foster carer from Motherwell, has been sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid community work and 15 months of social work supervision for ill-treatment towards children in her care, with some offences dating back to the 1970s. Despite the gravity of the offences, the sheriff opted for a non-custodial sentence given Hassan’s lack of prior convictions and her assessed minimal risk of re-offending. The case highlights the importance of providing a safe and secure environment for vulnerable children in care.