ROXANNE IRVING AND GARY HETHERINGTON FROM CURRICK JAIL FOR ENDANGERING BABY IN CARLISLE

In a disturbing case that unfolded in Carlisle, Cumbria, a young couple from Currock was sentenced to prison after their reckless behavior put their infant son in grave danger. The incident, which took place in January 2014, drew significant attention from local residents and authorities alike, highlighting the dangers of drug abuse and neglect.

According to court proceedings, 25-year-old Roxanne Irving, who was under the influence of heroin and had taken ten tranquilizer tablets, was seen dangerously weaving through traffic on the busy streets of Carlisle city centre. Witnesses reported that Irving was heavily intoxicated, leaning on her baby’s pram and swerving across the pavement and into the road, creating a perilous situation for herself, her child, and passing vehicles.

Meanwhile, her 34-year-old partner, Gary Hetherington, was observed nearby in a different street, actively involved in arranging a heroin deal. He was seen collecting the drug while out with Irving and their baby just minutes before the dangerous incident. The magistrates heard that Hetherington had been in the process of obtaining drugs at the time, further complicating the situation.

Both Irving and Hetherington, residents of Toronto Street in Currock, admitted to charges of child neglect during the court hearing. They were each sentenced to 26 weeks in prison for their reckless endangerment of their young child.

Prosecutor Adrienne Harris detailed the events of November 13 last year, when the couple took their baby, secured in a buggy, into the heart of Carlisle city centre. Onlookers became increasingly alarmed as Irving, pushing the pram, appeared visibly intoxicated and unsteady. A worker from the Fusehill Street Spar shop recounted witnessing Irving’s erratic movements, noting that she was swaying and leaning heavily on the buggy, which was not equipped with rain protection despite the steady rain.

Witnesses also reported hearing the baby crying, adding to the concern. During this time, Hetherington was seen in the shop, engaged in a phone call discussing a drug deal. The situation escalated when Irving, still under the influence, suddenly moved the pram into the middle of the road, directly in front of an oncoming Royal Mail van. The driver had to take evasive action to avoid a collision, highlighting the extreme danger posed by her actions.

Further incidents occurred as Irving continued to walk with the pram, forcing traffic to slow down and swerve around her and the child. Another witness observed her pushing the buggy along Chiswick Street, only to fall and tip the pram over once she reached the pavement. The police arrived shortly after, finding Irving slumped beside the overturned pram and learning that Hetherington had left to collect heroin at that time.

Irving admitted to having smoked heroin earlier that day and taking ten Valium tablets while with her baby. She acknowledged that her actions had put her child at significant risk. Police found drug paraphernalia at the couple’s residence, including needles, tablets, and scales, further evidence of their drug use and neglect.

Legal representatives for Irving and Hetherington argued that the incident was an isolated event caused by stress and substance abuse. Irving’s lawyer, John Smith, emphasized that she had not used heroin since the incident and described her as emotional and upset during the event. Similarly, Tariq Khawam, representing Hetherington, stated there was no evidence of ongoing drug use or risk at their home, and that his client had tested negative for drugs since the incident.

Both defendants lodged appeals against their jail sentences. The magistrates, led by Chairman David Taylor, condemned their reckless behavior, describing it as child cruelty. The court also lifted an order that had prevented the couple’s identities from being publicly disclosed. The magistrates confirmed that the young child is now in the care of someone else, away from the dangerous environment created by his parents’ drug addiction and neglect.