A mother and father have been jailed for forcing their children to live in a faeces-strewn "hell hole".
The house in Clifton, York, was covered in faeces, police said
Two girls aged four and a one-year-old boy were found surrounded by dirt and debris a house in the Clifton area of York last year.
Their parents were sentenced to three years in jail after pleading guilty to cruelty, neglect and abuse.
The 26-year-old man and 24-year-old woman cannot be named for legal reasons.
The kitchen was piled high with rubbish
Officers went to the property after a neighbour complained about its state of disrepair.
They found the children sharing a soiled bed in dirty nappies, surrounded by rotting food and piled-high rubbish.
DC Debbie Outwin described the house as a "hell hole".
The children were found to be sharing a filthy bed
"The stench of the place was unbelievable. Even hardened officers who have visited countless unsavoury properties in their time, were knocked sick by the disgusting conditions," she said.
"But as we have seen in other high-profile cases around the country, this type of abuse sadly continues nevertheless.
"It is a sad indictment on society, but it is one we must all wake up to and do everything we can to prevent it in the future," she added.
Police described the house in Clifton as a "hell hole"
Police have praised the anonymous person who contacted the council about the house.
"This case highlights the fact that the actions of one person, and one person alone, can make such a vital difference," said Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Pope.
Gods Wonderful County THEY call it!
