In a harrowing case that has gripped England, a mother from Cheshire was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.
She reportedly hid her baby daughter in a drawer under her bed for nearly three years.
The disturbing details of this case was revealed during a trial at Chester Crown Court.
It painted a grim picture of extreme neglect and cruelty.
The mother, whose name remains undisclosed for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to four counts of child cruelty.
Her actions took place over nearly three years, starting in March 2020 when the baby was born.
It continued until February 2023, when the heartbreaking truth finally came to light.
The child was discovered just weeks before her third birthday, having endured unimaginable neglect and severe deprivation.
The presiding judge described her tragic existence as a "living death."
The Discovery of the Hidden Child
The child’s existence came to light after the mother’s partner found the baby.
He typically wasn't allowed to go upstairs, but one day he decided to use the bathroom upstairs.
While he was using the bathroom, he heard unusual noises.
Following the sounds, he discovered a malnourished toddler with matted hair and a cleft palate, hidden in a drawer.
This led to an immediate investigation by social services, who found the child in an appalling state.
She was severely underdeveloped, malnourished, and dehydrated, with multiple untreated medical conditions.
Authorities revealed that the child had spent her entire life concealed from the outside world.
She had never been registered, never seen daylight, and was fed only milky cereal through a syringe.
Medical experts testified that the child, despite being almost three years old, had the developmental capacity of a 10-month-old.
Social workers described her as unable to crawl, walk, talk, or make communicative sounds.
Instead, she displayed self-soothing behaviors like rocking, indicating prolonged isolation and emotional neglect.
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| The Drawer |
A Life Hidden from the World
During the trial, the court heard that the mother had hidden her child from everyone.
This included her other children and her partner, who often stayed at the family home.
The child was kept in a drawer under a bed.
The mother claimed the drawer was never fully closed, although she referred to the baby as “not part of the family.”
When responding officers questioned her, the mother showed no emotion and appeared indifferent to the gravity of her actions.
A social worker recounted the chilling moment of discovery: "I looked at her [mom] and asked, ‘Is this where you keep her?’ The mother replied matter of factly, ‘yes, in the drawer.’"
The court was also told that the mother left the child unattended for hours, even days, while she went to work, took her other children to school, or stayed with relatives over Christmas.
The Aftermath and Sentencing
The sentencing judge, Steven Everett, did not hold back his criticism of the mother.
"You starved that little girl of any love, proper affection, attention, or interaction with others. You denied her a proper diet and much-needed medical care," he said.
He went on to describe the impact on the child as "catastrophic—physically, psychologically, and socially."
The child, now in foster care, has been receiving medical treatment and therapy.
She has undergone surgeries to address her cleft palate and is reportedly making slow but steady progress.
Her foster carers have noted significant improvements, but the psychological scars remain evident.
The motive behind the mother’s actions remains unclear.
During the trial, the defense argued that the mother’s mental health, coupled with an abusive relationship and the challenges of the Covid-19 lockdown, created an "exceptional set of circumstances."
Despite these claims, the prosecutor emphasized that the child had been subjected to extreme neglect that no justification could excuse.
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