A CHILLING picture shows the squalid attic an autistic man was held captive in for seven months by his evil mum and stepdad.
Matthew Langley, 22, was starved until his weight dropped to just six stone while he was locked away in the faeces and vomit-strewn bedroom.
Craig and Lorna Hewitt, 43, left Matthew, who had learning difficulties, suffered from irritable bowel syndrome, incontinence and arthritis, “close to death”.
The harrowing photo of his hellish living conditions were revealed by police after the couple were last week found guilty of false imprisonment.
Rubbish can be seen covering the filthy floor of the cramped attic room in Sheffield.
A stained duvet can be seen nestled among the piles of empty drink cans and plastic bags.
And a mountain of rubbish has also been chucked on a Manchester United table football game.
Police scrambled to the home found faeces and vomit over the floor and bedding and flies buzzing through the room.
A key was also left on the outside of the door where the Hewitts had locked Matthew away as a prisoner.
He was found dehydrated and “with his life hanging in the balance” on June 2, 2020.
The victim was so malnourished his bones were jutting out through his skin and he had suffered damage to a kidney with high sodium levels relating to severe dehydration.
Medics also discovered abrasions that suggested he had been crawling around on all fours.
Nicholas Campbell QC, prosecuting, said: “His sodium levels were dangerously high. They measured 180. They were so high they could shut down his brain and kill him. Anything above 145, there is a real chance of death.
“The Home Office pathologist examined the injuries and said the abrasions and bruises were consistent in his view with Matthew having been crawling on all fours over objects in his path.”
Matthew made a good physical recovery and was discharged from hospital weighing 55kg.
The couple spun a web of lies when quizzed by police and claimed there had been locks on the internal doors because their home used to be a student accommodation.
Craig Hewitt said his stepson was only locked in at night to stop him going downstairs and setting off a security alarm.
His wife gave no comment answers to officers but told jurors she had cancelled respite care stays for her son because they made him “fed up”.
But jurors saw through their lies and they were convicted of causing or allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm.
The couple will be sentenced on February 18.
