duckingdafta
27-06-2008, 03:12 PM
'Home alone' toddler mother jailed
ITN - 1 hour 35 minutes ago (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20080627/tuk-home-alone-toddler-mother-jailed-dba1618.html)
A mother who left her two-year-old son home alone so she could spend a weekend partying has been jailed for at least nine months.
Kelly Tollerton was convicted by a jury of child neglect charges earlier this month after a jury was told she abandoned the infant for three days at her Lincoln home.
Sentencing the 23-year-old at Lincoln Crown Court, William Harbage QC said: "It defies belief that any mother can treat her child in that way. In my opinion, you are not a fit mother."
Tollerton left the child penned into the kitchen of their flat, with one nappy and just dirty laundry to sleep on, while she spent the weekend with her boyfriend, the court was told.
The little boy was found "cold, hungry and distressed" in a dirty vest and pants after he turned on a tap and flooded the kitchen, alerting neighbours.
The abandonment in November 2006 came after a six-month period of neglect, during which he was starved of emotional stimulation and kept in the "long-term filth" of the flat, Felicity Gerry, prosecuting, told the court.
Tollerton - convicted of one count of child cruelty by way of neglect, one of child cruelty by way of abandonment and one of perverting the course of justice - still denies all charges.
Handing her an 18-month prison sentence, of which she must serve half, Mr Harbage said: "Your treatment of your young son was deplorable and disgraceful. Your parenting was woefully inadequate.
"Your conduct arouses feelings of horror and revulsion among all right-thinking people, particularly parents, most of whom must make considerable sacrifices in their lives for their children.
"The evidence shows that you were more concerned with your own social life than catering for his needs or caring for him. You were too selfish and too lazy to look after him properly."
Tollerton has a low IQ but the recorder said he was "satisfied" that she was not stupid and knew how to look after a child.
ITN - 1 hour 35 minutes ago (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20080627/tuk-home-alone-toddler-mother-jailed-dba1618.html)
A mother who left her two-year-old son home alone so she could spend a weekend partying has been jailed for at least nine months.
Kelly Tollerton was convicted by a jury of child neglect charges earlier this month after a jury was told she abandoned the infant for three days at her Lincoln home.
Sentencing the 23-year-old at Lincoln Crown Court, William Harbage QC said: "It defies belief that any mother can treat her child in that way. In my opinion, you are not a fit mother."
Tollerton left the child penned into the kitchen of their flat, with one nappy and just dirty laundry to sleep on, while she spent the weekend with her boyfriend, the court was told.
The little boy was found "cold, hungry and distressed" in a dirty vest and pants after he turned on a tap and flooded the kitchen, alerting neighbours.
The abandonment in November 2006 came after a six-month period of neglect, during which he was starved of emotional stimulation and kept in the "long-term filth" of the flat, Felicity Gerry, prosecuting, told the court.
Tollerton - convicted of one count of child cruelty by way of neglect, one of child cruelty by way of abandonment and one of perverting the course of justice - still denies all charges.
Handing her an 18-month prison sentence, of which she must serve half, Mr Harbage said: "Your treatment of your young son was deplorable and disgraceful. Your parenting was woefully inadequate.
"Your conduct arouses feelings of horror and revulsion among all right-thinking people, particularly parents, most of whom must make considerable sacrifices in their lives for their children.
"The evidence shows that you were more concerned with your own social life than catering for his needs or caring for him. You were too selfish and too lazy to look after him properly."
Tollerton has a low IQ but the recorder said he was "satisfied" that she was not stupid and knew how to look after a child.