Social work team saved child torture from being even worse

A MAN who tortured children and filmed his sadistic "interrogations" on a mobile phone has died while awaiting trial.

City social work chiefs today said the horrific abuse suffered by the three children at the hands of drug addict Gary Marinello, 32, could have been "much worse" if social workers not turned up to the house.

The High Court in Edinburgh yesterday heard how the two boys and a girl endured a weekend ordeal during which they were:

• Tied to a radiator and beaten with a shoe

• Locked up in a tiny cupboard

• The girl's nose was burnt and she was threatened with having her eyes burnt out

• One of the boys was dragged naked across the floor leaving him needing skin grafts

Marinello, who died of a drug overdose two months ago while awaiting trial, is believed to have claimed that he launched the violent spree after catching the 11-year-old boys engaged in sexual activity in a house in the Carrick Knowe area.

The abuse only came to an end when a social worker visited and, spotting the injuries on the children, called the police.

It emerged today that the visit had been arranged three days before by Marinello's partner and co-accused Elaine Robertson, who raised concerns about an alleged sexual relationship between the children.

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, the city's children and families leader, said today it was a "terrible case".

A leading paediatrician and child abuse expert said one of the boys suffered "the worst case of non-accidental injury" she had ever seen.

Cllr MacLaren said: "It's a tragedy when any child has to endure fear and abuse inflicted by an adult. There had been contact with these children about other matters but there was never any evidence of physical abuse before the weekend in question.

"Because of the quick thinking of our social work team, the children were immediately taken out of the very dangerous situation. If they hadn't intervened when they did, the situation could have become worse."

Convicted housebreaker Marinello was expected to stand trial next month but died of a drugs overdose on June 26. Tests were inconclusive in determining whether it was accidental or suicide.

On a tribute page on the Gone Too Soon website, his sister Laura wrote: "My big bro did nowt by halves. He may not have been the most nicest person in the world, he has done bad things, but who hasn't done something bad, maybe not like (Gary), but whatever badness there's always pain."

Robertson, 37, who now lives in Cupar, Fife, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday to her role in the abuse between February 27 and March 2 last year.

Marinello was accused of burning the girl's nose and threatening to burn her eyes with a cigarette. He also faced charges of trussing the children up, tying them to a radiator, a gate and each other with belts, bandages and electric cable.

The youngsters were also punched, kicked and spat on and beaten with a shoe. One of the boys was dragged naked across the floor.

Advocate depute Joanna Cherry QC said Marinello made three hours of mobile phone recordings of himself "interrogating" the youngsters. The footage showed Robertson shouting and swearing.

Police officers were called to the home shortly before midnight on the Saturday following complaints by neighbours.

The officers found Marinello sitting, sweating, in a bedroom, but he claimed the couple's "noisy sex" sparked the complaints, and the police left.

It was the Monday social work visit which revealed the children's ordeal after they were seen with black eyes and other marks on their faces.

When questioned by police, Robertson admitted helping Marinello force the children into the one metre square cupboard under the stairs.

In court yesterday, she pleaded guilty to assaulting them and to charges of neglect and failing to get medical attention.

Robertson remains on bail pending sentence.