Stoke-on-Trent mother jailed for son's neglect before death

STOKE-ON-TRENT MOTHER JAILED FOR SON'S NEGLECT BEFORE DEATH

A mother has been sentenced to imprisonment for neglecting her seven-week-old son during the period leading up to his death in 2019.

It has been reported that Ronnie Higginson appeared 'noticeably unwell' before he died on 26 November, yet his parents, Kayleigh Clarke and Michael Higginson, did not seek medical assistance.

The police have stated that paramedics found Ronnie in cardiac arrest at the couple's home in Stoke-on-Trent, and he subsequently died in hospital.

Clarke was sentenced to 27 months in prison, while Higginson received a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years.

It was recognized that although the couple did not directly cause Ronnie's death, their neglect likely led to unnecessary suffering or potential health harm.

Clarke, aged 33 and from St Anthony's Road in Preston, and Higginson, aged 53 from Newcastle-under-Lyme, both pleaded guilty to three charges of ill-treating or abandoning a child to cause unnecessary suffering.

According to police reports, Ronnie showed signs of illness around 22 or 23 November, including congestion, difficulty breathing, and loss of appetite.

Despite being advised to seek urgent medical care, the couple failed to do so.

Several days later, emergency services responded to their residence at 20:55 GMT following reports of a child in cardiac arrest.

Ronnie was transported to hospital but died less than thirty minutes later.

Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Hannan described the incident as 'truly tragic' and extended her condolences to everyone affected, highlighting the critical importance of seeking prompt medical help in similar situations.