shocking cruelty

An act of extreme wickedness. Type of: cruelty, inhuman treatment. a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering. the quality of being shockingly cruel and inhumane. synonyms: atrociousness, barbarity, barbarousness, heinousness.

shocking cruelty = Cruelty is behavior that deliberately causes pain or distress to people or animals. Britain had laws against cruelty to animals but none to protect children.