Pair jailed for child neglect after children found living in squalor

The pair were both sentenced to 15 months in prison at Shrewsbury Crown Court after pleading guilty to three counts of neglect.

One of the three children, all of whom were under five at the time social services became involved between January 2015 and July 2016, was hospitalised because of untreated eczema.

Mrs Sati Reuck, on behalf of the crown, said the child was in hospital for two days.

She said: "The doctor said that the child's eczema was not being managed adequately by the parents and the hospitalisation could have been avoidable."

Another of the children had to have a number of baby teeth removed due to tooth decay, which the dentist said may affect the child's adult teeth.

Social services became involved when the woman, from the Telford area, was pregnant with the youngest child and the other two were aged one and three.

Mrs Reuck said a midwife had visited the house and noticed that there was hot food which was days old on the floor, dog faeces, and four to five bottles in a cot which was stained.

She also said that the fire service was called to the house and initially the man, who was only a biological father to the youngest child, was hesitant to let the fire service inside.

Mrs Reuck said: "The fire supervisor described the house as dirty and reported it to social services."

She said that a social worker had reported that at one point the family were living upstairs in one room as their dog had messed on the carpet downstairs which had then been removed.

"They were all sleeping on one mattress and there were no curtains and no bed clothes on the bed," she said.

At another visit it was noted that one of the children had a tin with sharp jagged edges stuck to her foot, but was not injured.

At one point a "cannabis spliff" was on the mattress within reach of the children.

The three children are now in the care of foster parents.

The couple cannot be named for legal reasons. Paul Smith, on behalf of the female defendant, said: "Between these two young people they were not able to provide the care these children deserved.

"The couple are now separated and are taking steps to deal with difficulties."

Robert Edwards, on behalf of the male defendant, said: "This is a case of too much responsibility too soon."

Judge Peter Barrie said that neglect can be as serious as deliberately assaulting children.

He said: "It's right to say that deliberately assaulting children involves a state of mind which is different and more serious than neglecting their welfare.

"That doesn't necessarily mean that neglect could be less serious.

"You would have to assault your child pretty seriously to cause the trouble they have suffered as a result of your neglect.

"You are clearly seriously dangerous to their health."