SHARON GOLDIE FROM WISHAW FACES JUSTICE AFTER NEGLIGENTLY LEAVING DAUGHTER TO DIE IN LANARKSHIRE

In August 2020, a tragic case unfolded in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, revealing the heartbreaking neglect and tragic death of 13-year-old Robyn Goldie. The court heard how Robyn endured a prolonged period of severe neglect at the hands of her mother, Sharon Goldie, aged 45, who showed a blatant disregard for her daughter's suffering and pleas for help.

Robyn's life was marked by instability and neglect from a young age. Initially, she lived with her mother until she was four years old, after which she was placed in the care of her grandmother. During this period, Robyn was placed on the child protection register following an incident where Goldie was found intoxicated while supposedly caring for her. The young girl also experienced a distressing episode where she had to call a gas company herself, complaining of feeling cold, which led to her staying with her grandmother until 2017. This period was described as a time of relative stability for Robyn.

However, circumstances changed when Robyn returned to live with her mother in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, due to various reasons, including her starting secondary school. Despite her return, social workers continued to monitor her situation closely. The court was told that Goldie was repeatedly offered opportunities to attend parenting classes but declined, even asking for Robyn to be removed from her care. Her relationship with her daughter was strained, exacerbated by her drinking habits, which caused frequent friction and concern among social workers. Unannounced visits often revealed a house described as smelling strongly of cat urine, and Robyn was reported to have expressed her dislike of her mother’s drinking habits.

Robyn was frequently seen at the Melody Bar in Wishaw, searching for her mother and asking for money to buy food. She was often so thin, dirty, and unkempt that her appearance drew concern. On one occasion, Robyn confided in a friend that she had only eaten a yoghurt that day. The court heard that Goldie’s attitude towards her daughter was dismissive and harsh; at one point, she was heard to say, “I am f*****g sick of her. I wish she would go back and stay with her gran.”

Further disturbing evidence revealed that Robyn had recorded her mother screaming at her, with Goldie slapping and biting her daughter during episodes of drunkenness. Robyn also told friends that her mother would offer her cannabis and alcohol, despite her clear discomfort and her repeated pleas for her mother to leave her alone. The neglect culminated in a series of health issues, including a flea rash in March 2018, and in the week leading up to her death, Robyn was given painkillers after complaining of stomach and leg pain.

On July 21, 2018, Goldie was seen at the Melody Bar claiming she had locked Robyn inside the house to prevent her from leaving. The following day, Robyn confided in a friend that she had been unwell and had not eaten for days. Despite her condition, she later texted her grandmother on July 24, saying she felt “a lot better.” However, a friend of Goldie observed that Robyn appeared drained and told her mother that her daughter was “just not well.”

That night, Robyn begged Goldie to seek medical help, citing pain all over her body, but her mother refused to call an ambulance. Another friend offered to take Robyn to the hospital, but Goldie stopped him, claiming her daughter was “attention seeking.” The following day, Robyn, unable to breathe properly, asked a neighbor to call an ambulance. Her mother, however, yelled at her to “get in,” refusing to seek help.

On July 26, the day Robyn died, it is believed she suffered from a burst stomach ulcer, which led to peritonitis. A social worker arrived at the house at 9:40 am to take Robyn to a catering class, but Goldie explained through the letterbox that her daughter had been unwell since the previous Thursday. Despite her daughter’s worsening condition, Goldie left the house to go to the pub. When she returned with a friend, they found Robyn slumped on the sofa, unresponsive. Instead of seeking immediate medical assistance, Goldie and her friend retrieved another drink from the fridge and went outside to enjoy the weather, leaving Robyn unattended.

It was only after a second check that Robyn was found dead. An ambulance was called, but Goldie told paramedics, “She’s at it,” dismissing her daughter’s critical condition. When informed of Robyn’s death, Goldie was heard wailing and exclaimed, “No, she cannot be.” She later told police she thought Robyn had a bug and believed her daughter was “trying to wind her up.”

Medical examinations confirmed that Robyn died from peritonitis caused by a perforated ulcer. A senior medic stated that if she had received treatment earlier, her chances of survival would have been significantly higher. Goldie appeared in the High Court in Glasgow, where she admitted to wilfully ill-treating and neglecting her daughter. Prosecutors accepted her plea of not guilty to culpable homicide, and her sentencing is scheduled for next month. The case highlights the tragic consequences of neglect and the failure to act in the face of clear signs of distress and illness.