Perth parents jailed for almost starving teenage ballerina daughter to death

A court has been told how the parents of a teenage ballerina almost starved their daughter to death - denying anything was wrong with her.

A mother and father who almost starved their teenage ballerina daughter to death denied anything was wrong with her – with a judge noting they were more concerned about their “egos, views and beliefs”.

The Perth parents, who cannot be identified because their daughter was a child when the offences took place, became the focus of authorities after the girl’s ballet teacher made a report about her childlike appearance.

They were eventually forced to take their homeschooled girl to medical treatment after repeatedly providing authorities with excuses for the girl’s frail appearance.

Authorities were told by the couple their daughter was born premature, was two years younger than her actual age and had a vegan diet.

The girl’s parents were forced to take her to medical treatment where they consistently lied and ignored advice from medical professionals. Picture: Supplied

Doctors discovered the 15-year old girl weighed the same as a nine-year old child. Picture: Supplied

Doctors determined the 15-year old girl weighed the same as a nine-year old child, was severely malnourished and socially underdeveloped.

“I find that by late March 2021 you were well aware of how bad your situation was, your daughter was fading before your eyes, she was not developing in terms of puberty or social development,” Perth District Court Judge Linda Black said.

“She was becoming weak and showing signs of severe malnutrition.

“She was pale, showed no signs of puberty and her skin was dry and flaky.

“The doctor said she was severely underweight and had grave concerns for her welfare but you did not agree with the doctor, you argued, disagreed and ignored.”

Judge Black told the court the parents deliberately lied and consistently denied anything was wrong with their daughter and were more concerned about their own egos, views and beliefs rather than getting her medical help.

“Both of you resorted to lying about your child, the consequence of your failure meant she became thinner from malnutrition and her life was put at risk,” she said.

“The two of you told the doctor that despite the fact she was significantly malnourished, your daughter wasn’t underweight, she just had a fast metabolism and the other girls in the ballet class were overweight.

“The two of you were so locked in your confidence that you were right and the rest of the world was wrong.”

Authorities observed the parents encouraging their teenage daughter to watch children’s shows such as The Wiggles, Thomas the Tank Engine and Teletubbies.

Judge Black said the parents never let their daughter grow up and as a result she would never mature as an adult.

She said the parent’s treatment of their daughter meant she could not psychologically grasp the concept that the two people she loved most harmed her.

“That is the reality of the case,” she said.
“There are only two people to blame for the suffering of your daughter and that is the two of you.”

The father was sentenced to six and a half years jail for the neglect of his daughter and fraud, while the mother was sentenced to five years jail for the neglect of her daughter. Picture: Supplied

In sentencing, Judge Black said the Education Department “failed dismally” to check the girl while she was being homeschooled.

She said while the parents were at fault, their neglect could have been picked up earlier by the department because it was obvious the girl’s appearance was not someone of her age.

The father was sentenced to six and a half years in jail for the reckless care of a child that resulted in her suffering and forging his daughter’s birth certificate to make it appear she was years younger than she was.

He will need to serve four and a half years before he is eligible for parole.

The mother was sentenced to five years for the reckless care of her daughter that resulted in her suffering, and will need to serve three years before she is eligible for parole.

Originally published as Perth parents jailed for almost starving teenage ballerina daughter to death