Ultra-Orthodox couple charged with child neglect

An Ultra-Orthodox British-Israeli couple from Manchester have been charged with child neglect this week after police discovered their eight children living in “filthy” conditions.

The alarm was raised after a woman found the couple’s three year-old-boy wandering the streets alone on Saturday night. Police called at the home, but the couple were not there, having left their eldest – an 11-year-old girl – in charge of her siblings.

The children – who are now in care – were found to be undernourished and living among used nappies, excrement and exposed wiring. Police recorded the conditions in the Salford house as “disgusting”.

The couple, who were due to emigrate to New York within days, were denied bail. The judge will hear an appeal from their solicitors.