STOKE TEENAGER TERRI GALLIMORE CHARGED WITH CHILD NEGLECT IN SHAMEFUL INCIDENT

In May 2018, a distressing case of child neglect emerged from Stoke, highlighting the serious consequences of delayed medical intervention. A young child, whose identity remains protected, was found to be in significant pain after suffering a severe injury to the leg. Despite clear signs of distress, the child's caregiver, 19-year-old Terri Gallimore of Selwyn Street, Stoke, failed to seek immediate medical assistance for up to seven hours following the injury.

According to reports, the child was crying out in pain when their swollen and fractured leg was moved, raising immediate concerns among those present. A friend of Gallimore also expressed worries about the child's condition, emphasizing the urgency of medical attention. However, Gallimore did not act promptly; instead, she delayed seeking help, and it was only when a social worker intervened that the child was taken to hospital.

Medical examinations at the Royal Stoke University Hospital revealed alarming injuries. The child exhibited significant soft tissue swelling in the left thigh and knee, along with a femoral fracture. The cause of the injury remains uncertain, but medical professionals suggested that the injury could have resulted from the child being dropped and caught by the leg, or possibly from a grabbing motion that involved considerable force.

During court proceedings, prosecutor Samantha Crabb detailed the case, stating, “The child only cried when the leg was moved. A social worker wanted to have the child checked over, and it was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital. The defendant later said she had dropped the child and caught it by its leg, and that could not be ruled out by medics.”

Crabb further explained that the injury was serious enough to warrant concern and should have prompted immediate medical attention. The paediatric orthopaedic surgeon indicated that the injury could have been caused by a grabbing motion, which would require significant force. The prosecution argued that Gallimore’s failure to seek medical help constituted short-term neglect, which could have had severe consequences for the child's health.

At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Gallimore pleaded guilty to a charge of cruelty to a person under 16. The court sentenced her to a two-year community order and mandated that she complete 40 hours of unpaid work. This case underscores the importance of timely medical intervention in safeguarding vulnerable children and highlights the legal repercussions of neglectful behavior in such situations.