Mother jailed for drug-fuelled neglect of children, aged 14 and 7

A mother who left her two children home alone over three days while she took drugs has been jailed for two years and eight months.

The 34-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Northampton Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, July 27.

The court heard how on Sunday, September 15, 2019, the woman began a drink and drug binge at her rural village home with a male friend, before the pair travelled to Daventry to continue drinking and taking cocaine, cannabis, and prescription drugs, leaving her daughter, then aged 14, and her seven-year-old son alone at their home.

For the next two days the children were left to fend for themselves, with the elder girl doing her best to care for her brother and ensure he went to school and was properly fed.

On Wednesday, September 18, their mother was found outside a pub in Daventry in a half-dressed and incoherent state and was taken to Daventry police station, where she told officers she had ‘done a terrible thing’ and was a ‘bad mum’, and was arrested after admitting she had left the children alone for most of the previous three days.

The mother entered guilty pleas to five counts relating to child neglect and child abuse, and was sentenced to a total of two years and eight months in prison.

The man, aged 35, pleaded guilty to drug possession charges and was sentenced to a total of four months, suspended for two years, plus a £240 fine for possession of Class A, B and C drugs.

Speaking afterwards, investigating officer Detective Constable Laura Jardine, of the Child Protection team at Northamptonshire Police, said: “The case involved a series of terrible decisions by a mother who put her own wants above the needs of her children.

“Her behaviour demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of how to be a good parent. Her actions were self-centred and based only on what she wanted to do, and not what her children needed.

“The whole experience and subsequent fallout has been very hard for her daughter and son, but I am pleased that she admitted her failings and has been punished for them. I wish the children all the best for the future and hope that in time they can put this distressing experience behind them.”

Both children are now in the care of relatives.