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| Baby Peter mother offers apology | Baby Peter mother offers apology |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Baby Peter's mother has apologised for the "pain and suffering" endured by her son before his death. | Baby Peter's mother has apologised for the "pain and suffering" endured by her son before his death. |
| In a letter to the judge who is due to sentence her alongside her boyfriend and lodger, she said: "I punish myself on a daily basis". | |
| Peter died after months of abuse in Haringey, north London, in August 2007. | Peter died after months of abuse in Haringey, north London, in August 2007. |
| In a statement read at the Old Bailey, his father said he could not believe "such appalling cruelty" had been inflicted upon his son. | In a statement read at the Old Bailey, his father said he could not believe "such appalling cruelty" had been inflicted upon his son. |
| Peter's mother, her boyfriend and their lodger are to be sentenced for causing or allowing the baby's death. | Peter's mother, her boyfriend and their lodger are to be sentenced for causing or allowing the baby's death. |
| Peter was 17 months old when he died with more than 50 injuries, despite being on Haringey Council's child protection register. | Peter was 17 months old when he died with more than 50 injuries, despite being on Haringey Council's child protection register. |
| Mother's letter | Mother's letter |
| I have lost all I hold dear to me, now every day of my life is full of guilt and trying to come to terms with my failure as a mother. | |
| I punish myself on a daily basis and there is not a day that goes by where I don't cry at some point. | I punish myself on a daily basis and there is not a day that goes by where I don't cry at some point. |
| While I appreciate I am going to be given a custodial sentence, I would like to say I am sorry for all the pain and suffering my failure has led to. | While I appreciate I am going to be given a custodial sentence, I would like to say I am sorry for all the pain and suffering my failure has led to. |
| I know I can never forgive myself of my shortcomings. I am truly sorry. | |
| Profile: Trio who caused boy's death | |
| In a two-day sentencing hearing, Peter's father described him as a "cheerful, bubbly, smiling" boy. | In a two-day sentencing hearing, Peter's father described him as a "cheerful, bubbly, smiling" boy. |
| "He was such an adorable and loveable little boy. He loved to be cuddled and tickled. He made anyone in his presence happy," he said. | "He was such an adorable and loveable little boy. He loved to be cuddled and tickled. He made anyone in his presence happy," he said. |
| Peter's father, who had separated from the boy's mother five months after Peter was born, said he could never come to terms with his death. | Peter's father, who had separated from the boy's mother five months after Peter was born, said he could never come to terms with his death. |
| "I continue to feel extremely angry for what happened to Peter," he said. | "I continue to feel extremely angry for what happened to Peter," he said. |
| On the last occasion he took Peter back to his mother, the boy started to scream, his father said. | On the last occasion he took Peter back to his mother, the boy started to scream, his father said. |
| He now realised that was because Baby Peter was going back to "a life of pain, fear and loneliness with no-one to care for or comfort him". | He now realised that was because Baby Peter was going back to "a life of pain, fear and loneliness with no-one to care for or comfort him". |
| On 3 August 2007 he received a phone call from the boy's mother, saying Peter was on his way to hospital suffering breathing difficulties. | On 3 August 2007 he received a phone call from the boy's mother, saying Peter was on his way to hospital suffering breathing difficulties. |
| I just wanted to pick him up and take him home Baby Peter's father | I just wanted to pick him up and take him home Baby Peter's father |
| Baby Peter's father was "frantic with worry" and when he arrived at the hospital he was told his son had already been declared dead. | Baby Peter's father was "frantic with worry" and when he arrived at the hospital he was told his son had already been declared dead. |
| "I could not believe what was happening. I could not believe it was my son. | "I could not believe what was happening. I could not believe it was my son. |
| "He appeared to be asleep, and I just wanted to pick him up and take him home. | "He appeared to be asleep, and I just wanted to pick him up and take him home. |
| "But there was nothing I could do for him. I kissed him on his forehead and said goodbye. My son was gone forever." | "But there was nothing I could do for him. I kissed him on his forehead and said goodbye. My son was gone forever." |
| Baby Peter's father said he comforted the boy's mother at that stage because he believed her explanation that he had died suddenly, probably from cot death. | Baby Peter's father said he comforted the boy's mother at that stage because he believed her explanation that he had died suddenly, probably from cot death. |
| Details of Peter's death emerged a week later. | Details of Peter's death emerged a week later. |
| His father said it was the "most horrendous time" and that he could not stop thinking about his son's last days. | His father said it was the "most horrendous time" and that he could not stop thinking about his son's last days. |
| "No human being, especially a child, deserves to suffer like Peter suffered in the last weeks and months of his life," he said. | "No human being, especially a child, deserves to suffer like Peter suffered in the last weeks and months of his life," he said. |
| His mother, her boyfriend, 32, and their lodger Jason Owens were found guilty of causing or allowing Peter's death. | His mother, her boyfriend, 32, and their lodger Jason Owens were found guilty of causing or allowing Peter's death. |
| The boyfriend will also be sentenced for raping a two-year-old girl. | The boyfriend will also be sentenced for raping a two-year-old girl. |
| Meanwhile three social workers who were sacked after Peter's death have appealed against their dismissals. | |
| Haringey Council's deputy director of children, Cecilia Hitchen, social worker Maria Ward and team manager Gillie Christou were dismissed in April. |