KELLY DEBRUIJN'S NEGLIGENT CARE LEADS TO TODDLER'S FALL IN DUNFERMLINE HIGH-RISE FLATS

A tragic incident unfolded at the Broomhead high-rise flats in Dunfermline when a three-year-old girl, living in extremely neglectful conditions, fell from a first-floor window of her tower-block home. The girl survived the fall, which could have resulted in severe injury or worse, thanks to the quick response of bystanders and emergency services.

According to reports, Kelly Debruijn, aged 31, was unaware that her young child had fallen until she heard screams emanating from outside her flat. Witnesses nearby saw the girl tumble from the balcony and land on the ground below. The incident occurred during a period when Debruijn was engaged in online chatting, neglecting her responsibilities as a caregiver.

Debruijn was brought before Dunfermline Sheriff Court to face charges of child neglect. She had previously admitted that between July 27 and August 12 of the previous year, she wilfully neglected her child. The court heard that she left the girl unsupervised with a window open on the first floor, which allowed the child to climb up and eventually fall out.

Neighbors had grown increasingly concerned about the state of Debruijn’s flat, which was described as being in “extreme squalor.” The property was filled with rubbish, flies, and was deemed uninhabitable. Complaints about noise and the foul smell prompted a call to council services, and Fife Council received reports of anti-social behavior linked to the property.

Police officers who inspected the flat found it to be in a deplorable condition, with human faeces visible on a mattress and the entire property considered unfit for habitation. It was suggested that the young girl may have climbed onto black bags placed on the balcony before falling onto the stony ground below.

During the court proceedings, the sheriff described the situation as “quite horrifying” and chose to impose a six-month restriction of liberty order instead of a custodial sentence. The sheriff remarked, “If it wasn’t for the difficulties you were going through at the time, you would be facing jail today.”

Witnesses saw the girl, dressed only in a nappy, at a window before she managed to climb out and fall onto the hard surface beneath. She was quickly picked up by passersby, who comforted her until emergency services arrived. An ambulance transported her to hospital, though specific details about her injuries have not been disclosed.

The court heard detailed accounts of the neglect and the hazardous living conditions within Debruijn’s flat, emphasizing the dangerous environment the child was subjected to under her care. The incident underscores the serious consequences of neglect and the importance of proper supervision and safe living environments for vulnerable children.