Former soldier jailed for using electric shock dog collar on toddler
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A BARBARIC ex-soldier who subjected a toddler to shocks with an electric dog collar has been jailed for three years and four months.
Lanna Monaghan (34) also gave the child cold showers, bit and kicked him and hit him so hard with a wooden spoon that it broke.
Monaghan, who was living in Fort Augustus at the time of the offences, saw the device being used and told a pet owner: “If it works on a dog, it will work on kids.”
She pleaded guilty to the offences at the High Court in Edinburgh in May and sentence was deferred to the High Court sitting in Glasgow yesterday.
Monaghan, formerly of Fort William Road in Fort Augustus, admitted five charges of assaulting the boy, who does not live with her, at addresses in the Highlands in 2014 and last year.
The catalogue of abuse only ended when he was three after a concerned woman raised the alarm.
A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh was shown photographs of injuries found on the little boy and asked if those on his neck were caused by electrodes.
Lady Rae was told they were and said: “So it must have been applied on a number of occasions.”
Lady Rae told Monaghan: “This is an appalling catalogue of charges of physical cruelty, I think that is the only way to describe it, to a toddler over 15 months.”
Monaghan admitted repeatedly fixing a dog collar with an electric shock device attached around his neck and inflicting shocks on the boy in July last year.
The private hire car employee also admitted forcibly placing him in a shower and turning it on and off while kicking him.
Monaghan, who served in the army for nine years, also admitted biting his ear and repeatedly striking him with a spoon.
Police Scotland and Highland Council social workers have welcomed the sentence handed down by Lady Rae.
Detective Inspector Nicola MacKenzie of the public protection unit said: “This particularly harrowing case has thankfully reached a conclusion. Officers and partner agencies investigating the dreadful consequences of Monaghan’s actions are to be commended for their thorough and sensitive approach resulting in the victim’s physical ordeal swiftly coming to an end and Monaghan’s subsequent arrest.
“The cruelty demonstrated by Monaghan, against a defenceless child will understandably shock and sadden communities in the Highlands and beyond.
Detective Chief Insp-ector Vince McLaughlin, chairman of the Highland Child Protect-ion Committee said: “The alert we received about the safety of this young child enabled child protection agencies to respond and act quickly and decisively, to take action to protect this child. That outcome, along with the outcome of Monaghan’s sentence, has been achieved through the effective collaboration of all of our agencies.”
Sandra Campbell, head of Highland Council’s children’s services, said: “This child is now legally protected and cared for, and will receive support to help him overcome the longer-term effects of his experiences. All concerned have found this a very difficult case and are content to have played a part in safeguarding his future.”
An NSPCC Scotland spokesman said: “This is an appalling case of physical cruelty towards a toddler. The details of this horrendous abuse were truly disturbing and it is right that a custodial sentence has been imposed.
“This defenceless toddler will need support, love and stability to help him recover from the attacks to which he was subjected.”
