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Father jailed for using scalding water as punishment for toddler

10:00am Saturday 4th September 2010 in


A sadistic father plunged his daughter's hand into a basin of scalding water to punish her.

Richard Tampin lured the trusting three-year-old to the bathroom and held her hand and wrist in the water as she screamed in agony.

Tampin then waited for at least 50 minutes for the girl's mother Karen Witherell to come home before calling an ambulance.

He and Witherell then repeatedly lied to police and the courts in an attempt to cover up what had happened - claiming the toddler had caused the injuries herself at the home in Lower South Street, St Leonards.

The deeply traumatised tot suffered third degree burns which have left her scarred both physically and mentally for life.

She has had skin grafts and surgeons fear she may never fully regain the use of her damaged hand and will need further surgery.

Tampin, 42, was jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to causing the little girl grievous bodily harm with intent.

Witherell, 40, was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years after admitting perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

See today's Argus for full report.

Comments(24)

TheInsider says...
10:09am Sat 4 Sep 10

What a pathetic man. He's going to get it in prison.
I hope this little girl is now adopted by a loving family.

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HoveRocksActually says...
10:16am Sat 4 Sep 10

Horrifying. Poor little girl. All the best for her in the future. I hope this man rots

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brightonneil says...
11:11am Sat 4 Sep 10

12 years.... is that all? should be locked up for life for doing that to a defenceless child, how soon will he be out? 4 years maybe. perhaps when he gets out people will remember what he did?

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chipmunk77 says...
12:24pm Sat 4 Sep 10

Words fail me, how can someone do that to a child?

He fully deserves a life sentence in my opinion.

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Betty Blue says...
12:28pm Sat 4 Sep 10

Their days are numbered.

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Billyboyarnold says...
2:10pm Sat 4 Sep 10

How awful, i would love to do the same to this nasty man.

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Granny says...
2:40pm Sat 4 Sep 10

The same should be done to him, not his hand but a certain part of his body pertaining only to males!

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LarryTaylor says...
2:42pm Sat 4 Sep 10

Surely the death penalty should return for perverts and rapists

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Living in the real world says...
4:24pm Sat 4 Sep 10

Good result for him, out in in six, Good result for her, No punishment
BAD result fr the only victim here as the poor girl wil no doubt still be with the scum of a mother who condoned this action

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EBRA says...
4:28pm Sat 4 Sep 10

Give me five minutes with him! A kettle of boiling water would do the trick.

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MantaRay1 says...
5:04pm Sat 4 Sep 10

How could ANYBODY......etc. I can't help but be reduced to tears reading about things like this.

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pw24 says...
5:34pm Sat 4 Sep 10

evil b***ard! he should have a certain part of his anatomy held in boiling water!

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Tom V says...
6:02pm Sat 4 Sep 10

I hope that poor child is now in care and her 'parents' never get access to her. The sentences are a farce and not a deterrent for those who feel big by abusing little children.

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harrysgrand says...
7:01pm Sat 4 Sep 10

Granny wrote:
The same should be done to him, not his hand but a certain part of his body pertaining only to males!
with a bit of luck it will

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rashidk says...
7:08pm Sat 4 Sep 10

This is further proof of the need for some kind of licensing system for parenthood. As it is anyone(male) can couple with anyone else(female) and produce a child without the slightest idea of what's going to be involved in the care of this new human being. And we all perforce contribute to this ridiculous situation by way of child benefit. And further, let us not forget that the major part of the abuse of children, at a less spectacular level than this, happens within the family.

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Ballroom Blitz says...
10:08pm Sat 4 Sep 10

The most important thing about this awful case is that if anyone knows ANYONE who's inside - make sure this guy's name is made common knowledge to all inmates.
When he arrives, give him what he deserves.
Remember the name RICHARD TAMPIN - sounds like tampon - shouldn't be too hard to remember.
GIve him a 'welcome' that he'll never forget.
Bstard.

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stan bailey says...
10:56pm Sat 4 Sep 10

Ballroom Blitz wrote:
The most important thing about this awful case is that if anyone knows ANYONE who's inside - make sure this guy's name is made common knowledge to all inmates.
When he arrives, give him what he deserves.
Remember the name RICHARD TAMPIN - sounds like tampon - shouldn't be too hard to remember.
GIve him a 'welcome' that he'll never forget.
Bstard.
This country has gone to the dogs, when judges give out feeble sentences, and the public rely on criminals to sort justice out.

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Grumpygit says...
6:13am Sun 5 Sep 10

This tragic piece of news, which I’m sure has bought tears to a lot of peoples eyes, highlights the fact that their are psychopaths and social predators in our sorry world today. They are manipulative, callous, remorseless and stunningly self-centered, willing to use and abuse others to achieve their own ends. Furthermore, they are inclined to blame others, including their victims, for their problems and bad behaviour. But worse, they are unable to empathise and feel the pain and suffering of others. Does this remind you of anyone?

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fascinator says...
8:26am Sun 5 Sep 10

I hope this guy rots in his cell - but i think all this 'an eye for an eye' biblical punishment stuff shows that we aren't as civilised as we should be. It makes us NEARLY as bad as he is.

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worthingmum says...
2:36pm Sun 5 Sep 10

I really cannot understand our sentencing in this country.12 years usually means out in 6.This is not fair.He will be out of the normal prison population with all the nasties ina different wing, so unlikely he will be 'got at' in jail unfortunately.

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KeefyH44 says...
4:45am Mon 6 Sep 10

Grumpygit wrote:
This tragic piece of news, which I’m sure has bought tears to a lot of peoples eyes, highlights the fact that their are psychopaths and social predators in our sorry world today. They are manipulative, callous, remorseless and stunningly self-centered, willing to use and abuse others to achieve their own ends. Furthermore, they are inclined to blame others, including their victims, for their problems and bad behaviour. But worse, they are unable to empathise and feel the pain and suffering of others. Does this remind you of anyone?
I joined an online dating site a while ago. Once I'd got friendly with a few women, things in our past were discussed and when I mentioned that I'd known a few people like this, though not as bad, and gave the view that people like this should be compulsorily sterilized I never heard from them again. Surely to goodnes it's the natural reaction to acts like this. Many of these people only have the kids for the Child Benefit and it never gets spent on the children at all. I have known of people drug addled and/or drunk lying in a stupor on the sofa at home while their children run wild in the streets, or cadge food from pitying neighbours, (my daughter being one who subsidizes several of these people who then abuse and threaten her when she asks for repayment), or just steal. The parents have absolutely no empathy just as GrumpyGit describes. I have known them batter their children and social services do nothing, even punch their pets, "To let them know" whatever that means. We're surrounded by them buy unfortunately it rarely gets reported.

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Dizd says...
1:56pm Mon 6 Sep 10

What I find unbelievable is that he had a defence lawyer - how can anyone in their right mind defend this individuals actions - he knew exactly what he was doing - no defence required!

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Spanners says...
9:17am Tue 7 Sep 10

Dizd wrote:
What I find unbelievable is that he had a defence lawyer - how can anyone in their right mind defend this individuals actions - he knew exactly what he was doing - no defence required!
This guy is scum and deserves whatever he gets inside. However, I can't agree with you on the defence. It is everyones right in UK to have a fair trial and due process. If you just have a prosecution and don't allow any defence then that can't happen

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My Point of View says...
11:27pm Wed 8 Sep 10

He is still someones Father, Son, Husband... What about HIS Childhood...

There I put that in so all the bleeding Heart liberal morons on this site do not have too....

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