Couple charged for using BB gun to punish children

A U.K. couple is facing jail time after it was found they used a BB gun for punishment toward their children.

The Guardian reports the parents would threaten or shoot the children in the legs, back, stomach and arms if they thought the kids had misbehaved. The children were shot daily for months until one of the kids told a teacher about the punishment. The child told the teacher they didn’t feel safe at home, so social services was called and the children were removed.

Both parents denied the allegations initially, but later pleaded guilty to five counts of child cruelty. The father was sentenced to two years, and the mother was sentenced to 19 months, which will be suspended for two years.