NewsCrimeA nine-year-old child was found by police in a storage cupboard at the family home in Mérindol, Vaucluse, with his stepfather reportedly taken into custody14:27, 28 May 2026Updated 14:40, 28 May 2026A nine-year-old child has been rescued after being locked in a metre wide storage cupboard for 15 days at a property in France.‌The youngster was found by police at the family home in Mérindol, Vaucluse, on Friday, May 22, with his stepfather reportedly taken into custody‌An anonymous person alerted the authorities, concerned about the welfare of the boy. He was "always being punished" and not included on family outings with his mother, stepfather and three brothers, neighbours told France 3 Provence-Alpes .‌After the tip off, police went to the family home which is a small house in the village of 2,000 inhabitants, where they found the boy."The child was discovered by the police after the stepfather allowed access to the home and confirmed he was there," said public prosecutor of Avignon, Stéphanie Aouine.‌She said that the nine-year-old was locked in a tiny room, barely more than a square metre in dimensions, which was basically a storage closet.In the tiny space there reportedly wasn't a mattress and only only a basin for a toilet and some shelves. "He could stand up despite the presence of the shelves," the prosecutor said.And she emphasised that he "had been put there for 15 days," with police believing that he could have been locked inside since the start of May.Article continues below"His routine and living conditions (meals, outings, school) are still being assessed," stated Ms Aouine. It is known that the child had been attending school but it is alleged that he had not been allowed to go outside or have a shower when at home.This is a Breaking News story. You’ll be more likely to see our stories when any big news breaks in future by simply by clicking this link . You can also join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News , TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads - or visit The Mirror homepage .Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌CrimeBreaking NewsFrance