Pair jailed for neglect after childs window fall

PAIR JAILED FOR NEGLECT AFTER CHILDS WINDOW FALL

A man and woman have been sentenced to prison after a child in their care fell from a window while they were under the influence of drugs.

In June 2022, a member of the public discovered the boy near a property where Liam Brock, 29, and Charlotte Hayward, 31, resided.

Attempts to reach them by knocking on their door were unsuccessful.

Subsequently, Hayward retrieved the child from the person’s house and took him to the hospital, which initiated a police inquiry.

Brock and Hayward, residents of Nuneaton in Warwickshire, admitted to child neglect and received 18-month prison terms at Warwick Crown Court.

The child had head injuries upon arrival at the hospital, according to Warwickshire Police.

The suspects initially claimed the boy had fallen from a chair, but evidence from video footage indicated he had climbed out of an open window and fallen.

Blood tests from both adults detected benzoylecgonine, a chemical created when cocaine is metabolised by the body.

Police stated this indicated they had been under the influence of, or recovering from, cocaine at the time the child was injured.

The pair pleaded guilty in December and were sentenced on April 26.

An officer from the police’s Child Abuse, Trafficking, and Exploitation team emphasised the importance of responsibility among caregivers and urged the offenders to reflect on their failure to protect the child.