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Police find boy, 5, wandering Flintshire street at night | Police find boy, 5, wandering Flintshire street at night |
(about 13 hours later) | |
A five-year-old boy found wandering alone in a street at night told police he was "looking for someone to play with", a court heard. | A five-year-old boy found wandering alone in a street at night told police he was "looking for someone to play with", a court heard. |
His mother, a 35-year-old woman from Flintshire, was asleep at home after drinking, Flintshire magistrates were told. | His mother, a 35-year-old woman from Flintshire, was asleep at home after drinking, Flintshire magistrates were told. |
Police who took the boy home said his mother was in a dishevelled state and slurring her words. | Police who took the boy home said his mother was in a dishevelled state and slurring her words. |
She admitted child neglect and sentencing was adjourned. | She admitted child neglect and sentencing was adjourned. |
Flintshire magistrates, sitting in Mold, were told the boy was spotted by a member of the public alone on the street at 9.20pm on 20 May. | Flintshire magistrates, sitting in Mold, were told the boy was spotted by a member of the public alone on the street at 9.20pm on 20 May. |
He was inappropriately dressed for the weather, the court heard, and police were alerted. | He was inappropriately dressed for the weather, the court heard, and police were alerted. |
Prosecutor Matthew Ellis said that officers attended and saw the boy standing between two parked cars without a jacket on. | Prosecutor Matthew Ellis said that officers attended and saw the boy standing between two parked cars without a jacket on. |
It was going dark and getting cold at the time. | It was going dark and getting cold at the time. |
He was asked who was looking after him and replied: "Nobody, my mum is asleep upstairs." | He was asked who was looking after him and replied: "Nobody, my mum is asleep upstairs." |
The boy was taken home by officers before letting himself in and going to wake his mother. | The boy was taken home by officers before letting himself in and going to wake his mother. |
Clearly intoxicated | Clearly intoxicated |
The single mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not wake up so officers went upstairs but found her in a dishevelled state, said Mr Ellis. | The single mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not wake up so officers went upstairs but found her in a dishevelled state, said Mr Ellis. |
He said she was unsteady on her feet and slurring her words, clearly intoxicated and not in a fit state to look after a young child. | He said she was unsteady on her feet and slurring her words, clearly intoxicated and not in a fit state to look after a young child. |
The boy was asked what he had been doing outside and replied he had been "looking for someone to play with". | The boy was asked what he had been doing outside and replied he had been "looking for someone to play with". |
The court heard that his mother was uncooperative with the officers and scared the boy by threatening that police would take him away. | The court heard that his mother was uncooperative with the officers and scared the boy by threatening that police would take him away. |
The boy's father was called and arrived to take care of him because of the mother's state. | The boy's father was called and arrived to take care of him because of the mother's state. |
The boy's brother, aged 11, then returned home and the court heard that he did not seem surprised by his mother's condition. | The boy's brother, aged 11, then returned home and the court heard that he did not seem surprised by his mother's condition. |
He started to make food for his brother, who said he had not eaten since the morning. | He started to make food for his brother, who said he had not eaten since the morning. |
Drinking all afternoon | Drinking all afternoon |
The defendant claimed she had been having difficulties with neighbours and local youths but could not give more details. | The defendant claimed she had been having difficulties with neighbours and local youths but could not give more details. |
She said she had cooked a dinner but drank a large bottle of wine and had been drinking all afternoon. She put herself as "nine" on a scale of one to ten for drunkenness. | She said she had cooked a dinner but drank a large bottle of wine and had been drinking all afternoon. She put herself as "nine" on a scale of one to ten for drunkenness. |
She said during interview that she had done housework and prepared a school uniform. | She said during interview that she had done housework and prepared a school uniform. |
Her youngest son had received food, had a bath and had been put to bed at 8.30pm, she said. | Her youngest son had received food, had a bath and had been put to bed at 8.30pm, she said. |
She said that she had then slept and the next thing she remembered was speaking to the police who had found him in the street and brought him back home. | She said that she had then slept and the next thing she remembered was speaking to the police who had found him in the street and brought him back home. |
The door had not been locked. | The door had not been locked. |
The woman, who had a previous conviction for excess alcohol, was bailed pending sentence. | The woman, who had a previous conviction for excess alcohol, was bailed pending sentence. |
Her solicitor Gwyn Jones said social services were involved with the family and provided support. | Her solicitor Gwyn Jones said social services were involved with the family and provided support. |
The defendant had taken appropriate steps to deal with the issue of alcohol "which seems to be the root cause of her difficulties", the court heard. | |
District Judge Andrew Shaw warned that all sentencing options would remain open. | District Judge Andrew Shaw warned that all sentencing options would remain open. |
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