AN "inept and inadequate" couple from the Stroud area who blighted their children's lives with five years of extreme neglect in the home had their too soft sentences more than doubled by top judges on Friday.

The couple - who cannot be named - were prosecuted after social workers, teachers and medics became concerned about the deteriorating welfare of their five children, some of whose heads had become "excoriated" with the marks of chronic lice.

When the family home was searched by police it was found in a state of "complete disarray", Lord Justice Fulford told London's Appeal Court.

Children were inhabiting bedrooms that smelled of urine and animal faeces, and sleeping on soiled mattresses.

The mother, in her 40s and the father, in his 30s, pleaded guilty to five counts of child cruelty in relation to five children, and received respective sentences of two years nine months and two years at Gloucester Crown Court in June.

However, the case reached London's Appeal Court as lawyers for the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC, urged Lord Justice Fulford to increase the pair's sentences on the basis that they were "clearly unduly lenient".

The judge, sitting with Mr Justice Wilkie and Mrs Justice Elizabeth Laing, noted that the couple were not "delberately cruel", but were "inept parents" whose conduct demonstrated "incompetence and inadequacy".

And he accepted that the trial judge had taken great care to achieve the right balance when sentencing the couple.

But he concluded that both parents' sentences were far too light - increasing them to six years.

He told the court: "Over a long period of time these two offenders watched the appalling consequences of the way they were treating these children.

"The point must be reached at which a refusal to take any meaningful steps to alleviate the suffering of the people for whom the parents have responsibility becomes a form of wickedness."

Although both mother and father were the victims of their own shortcomings - and themselves had medical difficulties - they had to take responsiblity for their actions, the judge ruled.

"You don't need sophisticated abilities to avoid treating children as badly as these children were treated," he told the court.

Neglect of the youngsters took various forms, the court heard, including failing to treat chronic nappy rash which had become so severe that one child had difficulty walking.

They also failed to seek further medical attention to resolve a complex health issue, and allowed their offspring to develop "rampant head lice".

Their children's personal hygiene became so lamentable that school teachers were forced to wash their clothes, and at one point the parents decided to treat their chronic head lice with mayonnaise.

"Sentences of six years will reflect the totality of this criminality," the judge concluded.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, said: “This couple subjected their children to serious harm over many years. As a result of their emotional and physical neglect, these children suffered health problems and psychological damage.

“The parents regularly refused to engage with doctors and ignored other professionals who tried to ensure the children were not harmed. For five years they failed to prioritise their children’s needs above their own.

“I am pleased that the Court of Appeal has found the original sentences to be unduly lenient. The increase in the sentences reflects the seriousness of their crimes and the severity of the suffering they caused to their children.”