Couple let geese assault lady in hen coop as victims describe ‘home of horrors’

A depraved couple, Douglas and Barbara Daniel, were found guilty of subjecting foster children as young as four to years of horrific abuse, including locking a terrified girl in a chicken coop

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A wicked couple subjected a four-year-old girl they were fostering to the horror of being locked in a chicken coop and attacked by geese, while other children suffered abuse in their house of horrors. Evil Douglas Daniel, 80, and Barbara Daniel, 75, inflicted torment on the children.

They were aged between four and 14, and lived at their home in Parkhead, Glasgow. The pair, who appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court, meted out horrific punishments, including forcing a girl to stand with geese that pecked at her skin.

Several courageous victims stepped forward to recount the abuse they endured at the hands of the Daniels.

Today (January 27), the couple was found guilty on six charges of cruel and unnatural treatment of a child. The abuse took place between 1986 and 1991.

The Daniels, now residing in Kent, had denied the allegations against them. The court heard that the couple began fostering the first of their 100 children in 1986 when two girls, aged nine and four, moved in with them.

One victim recalled an incident where her sister, who was terrified of chickens, was trapped in a coop at the back of the property, reports the Mirror. The woman stated: “They locked the door from the outside.

“She was petrified”

“I tried to get her as my sister was screaming.” When asked by prosecutor Ryan Watson who put her sister in the chicken coop, the woman responded: “Douglas”.

She further revealed that while this was happening, Barbara Daniel yanked her hair and assisted Douglas Daniel in shutting their door. Mr Watson informed the jurors in his evidence: “The four-year-old was desperate to get out and was being pushed back inside.

“She was petrified, screaming to get out and she says to this day she cannot take her own children to a farm due to that experience.” A 53-year-old woman testified that Barbara Daniel forced her to stand amongst geese as punishment, according to GlasgowLive.

“When I spoke back to the Daniels, Barbara would get me to eat food that I disliked, geese eggs,” she stated. “If I refused, part of my punishment was, I would be put outside where the geese were running free.

“The geese would attack you. She would pull you and shake you.

“Barbara would put you in front of the geese. The geese could tell you were scared of them and attack you.”

“It was the most disgusting thing”

Another woman disclosed how she was forced to wash outdoors. Mr Watson explained: “This was a bath where the birds would bathe or defecate in.

“Barbara would push her in and laugh at her. She was only allowed to come out when Barbara had her fun.”

The same woman remembered being presented with a Sunday roast before Barbara Daniel snatched it away. Mr Watson continued: “They then gave her cow’s tongue which was for the ferrets.

“The most unspeakable abuse”

“She remembers it was the most disgusting thing she ever seen. She recalled that it was grey and saw the taste buds of the tongue.”

Douglas also struck one of the girls and commanded a victim to undress completely to examine for injuries. Mr Watson expressed his outrage, stating: “They punished these children and showed no compassion or cared.

“They were the real animals. This was supposed to be a safe home, respite from the troubles in the other aspects of their life.

“You were trusted with children”

“The Daniels did not offer them that basic, simple and expected need.” Sheriff Louise Arrol KC addressed the guilty pair, saying: “You have been convicted unanimously of what I describe as the most unspeakable abuse.

“Your youngest victim was just four years old.”

She continued: “They were vulnerable children who were removed from their caregivers and taken to a place of safety which was supposed to be you. Instead, this wasn’t anything short of a house of horrors.

“I cannot understand human beings behaving in this way let alone towards children.” Praising the victims for their bravery, she added: “I commend your victims for coming forward to relive lifelong trauma, and today justice has caught up with you.

“Douglas Daniel, remarkably, you have a criminal record for dishonesty and you were trusted with children.” The sentencing has been postponed until March pending background reports, with the Daniels’ bail being extended in the meantime.

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