A mother left one of her children in a faeces-ridden flat despite a smoke alarm going off, a court has heard. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court, where she admitted neglecting or abandoning a child in a way that caused unnecessary suffering.
The court heard the incident occurred earlier this year when neighbours became alarmed after hearing a smoke alarm sounding “longer than usual”. Concerned, they went to check on the family and discovered smoke in the hallway. Two of the defendant’s four children, who were naked, were standing in the hallway, said prosecutor Richard Edwards.
The neighbours, a woman and her son, wrapped the two children in blankets and took them outside. They also noticed a chopping board melting on the hob, further raising concerns. A third child came out of the flat, and the mother assured them, and later firefighters, that all four children were safe and out of the property.
However, when fire officers entered the flat, they discovered the fourth child asleep. They also found a fire alarm covered with a plastic bag, the court was told.
Police were called to the scene and faced difficulty entering the flat due to excessive clutter, rubbish, and soiled nappies. Inside, they found a toilet and bath smeared with faeces, beds without bedding, broken glass, and a dog tied to a baby gate amid more faeces on the floor.
All four children were taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor for check-ups but were found to be unharmed. They were initially placed in police protection before being cared for by extended family members.
The court heard the mother had been struggling to cope in the chaotic environment. Judge Niclas Parry described the situation as “harrowing” but acknowledged the woman’s challenges, sentencing her to a community order with conditions aimed at supporting her rehabilitation.
This troubling case underscores the importance of intervention and support for struggling families to prevent such incidents in the future.
