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Drowned boy's mother said five-year-old "hated water" | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The mother of a five-year-old boy who drowned at a water park told a court she was confident he would not enter a lake because he "hated water". | |
Charlie Dunn, who could not swim, was found submerged at Bosworth Water Park in Leicestershire on 23 July 2016. | Charlie Dunn, who could not swim, was found submerged at Bosworth Water Park in Leicestershire on 23 July 2016. |
His stepfather Paul Smith was jailed in December after admitting manslaughter by gross negligence at trial. | His stepfather Paul Smith was jailed in December after admitting manslaughter by gross negligence at trial. |
Charlie's mother, Lynsey Dunn, admitted neglecting him in a separate incident - and was given a suspended sentence. | |
More evidence relating to events surrounding Charlie's death has emerged in a ruling by Judge Grenville Perry, who had analysed events during separate family court proceedings. | |
Judge Perry said Charlie's mother "was adamant that [Charlie] only went up to his ankles because he hated water, and indeed he had to be led by her by the hand to even enter the water. | |
"The family had armbands but she decided not to take them because she knew [Charlie] would not want to go in the water," he added. | |
"They all went into the water soon after arriving. She knew there was no lifeguard." | |
Judge Perry described Dunn's evidence as "sad", adding: "She showed no understanding that children as young as five cannot be relied on to always do what they say they are doing." | |
The court also heard that an off-duty policewoman had been at the water park, in Market Bosworth, with her family, on the day Charlie died. | |
She noticed "a young boy" wandering in water up to chest height "looking lonely and lost" and had him "under close observation" for 10 minutes. | She noticed "a young boy" wandering in water up to chest height "looking lonely and lost" and had him "under close observation" for 10 minutes. |
She had been "sufficiently concerned" to go over to where he was and ask other children if he was with them. | She had been "sufficiently concerned" to go over to where he was and ask other children if he was with them. |
Charlie had been placed on the child protection register in 2012, when he was 14 months old. | Charlie had been placed on the child protection register in 2012, when he was 14 months old. |
Staffordshire County Council is now conducting a serious case review into his death. | |
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