Investigators who called at a “filthy” house found two toddlers had been fed from their bottles with Coca-Cola.

One of the youngsters had dental decay as a result of cruel neglect at the hands of a couple who were slammed by a judge.

The man and woman, both of Whitehaven, were sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court.

They had each admitted four child cruelty charges.

The woman also pleaded guilty to assaulting one of several children who were in their care on two separate occasions.

Their offences were committed during a five-month period up to March this year.

The couple cannot be named to protect the identity of the youngsters involved.

Paul Brookwell, prosecuting, said their crimes came to light after an older child was asked by a third party to put negative feelings into writing.

“They said they had been assaulted by her [the woman], and they had to steal to get food,” said Mr Brookwell.

Police were alerted and the couple’s home was visited.

“It was, in a few words, filthy, cluttered and unhygienic,” the prosecutor told Recorder Michael Murray, who was shown photographs of the property.

“There was an overwhelming smell, and a dirty nappy on the radiator.

“An officer said she physically retched on two occasions because of the overwhelming smell.”

Social services staff also attended the house, which was described as “grim”.

Sour milk was found in a fridge, and it emerged two of the youngest children had been fed Coca-Cola from bottles.

“One of the children had dental decay,” said Mr Brookwell.

When the woman was interviewed, she admitted the house was in an “unacceptable state”, and said she would try to sort it out.

The court heard she had twice assaulted one of the children, lashing out with a vacuum cleaner and throwing an object down stairs.

Kim Whittlestone, defending, said a pre-sentence report had been prepared on the woman and gave background to the offending.

“She doesn’t seek to blame anyone other than herself,” said Miss Whittlestone.

The offences were found to have “coincided with the household deteriorating”, and the woman’s inability to deal with that.

Recorder Murray spoke of “very bad behaviour and very bad offending”.

He sentenced the woman to 18 months in jail and the man to 16 months, both suspended for two years. They were also told to do 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to attend rehabilitation activity days.

The judge told the couple: “Over a protracted period of time, five months, your home – if that is what it could be called – was in a foul and disgusting state. It was filthy, disorganised and a danger to health. You both should be thoroughly ashamed.”