HUCKNALL PARENTS TERRI WALTERS AND ADAM WHITE AVOID JAIL AFTER BABY'S TRAGIC DEATH IN DRUG-RELATED NEGLIGENCE CASE

In the quiet suburb of Hucknall, a heartbreaking incident unfolded that would shake the community and draw the attention of the courts. Tiny Hunter White, an 18-day-old infant, lost his life under tragic circumstances on July 10, 2020, in his family home on Kingsway Gardens. The events leading up to his death revealed a disturbing pattern of neglect and drug use by his parents, which ultimately resulted in the child's untimely demise.

Paramedics arrived at the scene to find Hunter unresponsive, and despite their efforts, they pronounced him dead at the residence. The investigation that followed uncovered a distressing picture of parental neglect intertwined with substance abuse. Hunter's parents, Terri Walters, aged 32, residing at Kingsway Gardens, and Adam White, aged 45, of Foxhill Road East, Carlton, faced serious charges in connection with their child's death.

After a lengthy legal process marked by multiple delays, the case culminated in a sentencing hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, May 26. During the proceedings, both parents appeared side by side, visibly emotional and crying, as Judge Gregory Dickinson QC addressed them. The judge clarified that neither parent would be sent directly to prison, but their sentences reflected the gravity of their neglect.

Adam White was sentenced to a 12-month prison term, which was suspended for 18 months. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and participate in 40 days of rehabilitation activities. Meanwhile, Terri Walters received a community order for two years, along with a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement and 40 days of rehabilitative activities. She is also required to attend regular court reviews to monitor her progress.

It was established during the court proceedings that Hunter White died due to 'positional asphyxia,' a condition where the baby was deprived of oxygen and blood flow to the brain, likely caused by being in a position that obstructed his breathing. The tragic incident occurred while Walters was present in the house, having gone to bed after consuming alcohol and using cocaine. Her partner, Adam White, was in the living room, sleeping on the settee.

White had woken during the night and fed Hunter twice. After the first feeding, he returned the baby to a Moses basket, but after the second, he fell asleep. It was during this second sleep that Hunter slipped between White and the chair, suffocating and unable to breathe. The judge emphasized that had Hunter been returned to his basket, he would still be alive today. The court noted White's apparent remorse, stating, “From your tragic demeanour it’s clear you think of little else.”

Judge Dickinson expressed his discomfort with the sentences, remarking, “I am not comfortable with the sentences I am about to impose,” highlighting the complexity and emotional weight of the case. The initial charges against both parents included causing or allowing the death of a child, but due to procedural issues, the case was adjourned until September, when the charges were amended to cruelty by neglect.

White admitted guilt immediately, whereas Walters initially denied the charges, only changing her plea to guilty just before the trial in March. The judge noted the absence of evidence suggesting persistent or repeated neglect, which is often seen in similar cases. The prosecution could not determine the effects of cannabis on White that night, only that he had used the drug, and the court concluded that his lapse was a brief moment of poor judgment.

During the sentencing, Walters told probation services that she believed Adam White was entirely responsible for Hunter's death, emphasizing her feelings of guilt and remorse. The case remains a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of neglect and substance abuse within families, especially in a community like Hucknall that values safety and care for its most vulnerable members.