A mother from Cheshire, England, has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after it was revealed that she kept her daughter in a drawer under her bed for nearly three years.
The child, who was discovered just weeks before her third birthday, had suffered severe neglect, including malnutrition, untreated medical conditions, and lack of social interaction.
The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to four counts of child cruelty.
Judge Steven Everett, who sentenced her at Chester Crown Court, described the child’s treatment as a “living death,” emphasizing the severe physical, psychological, and social consequences for the girl.
“You starved that little girl of any love, any proper affection, any proper attention, any interaction with others, a proper diet, much-needed medical attention,” the judge remarked.
When the child was found, she had matted hair, rashes, and deformities. She had also been left untreated for a cleft palate.
Prosecutor Siôn ap Mihangel explained that the toddler had been confined to the drawer and was not allowed outside or given any socialization.
The girl was significantly malnourished and dehydrated, having only been fed through a syringe.
The child’s discovery came when the mother’s partner, who was unaware of the situation, accidentally found the child in the bedroom.
He heard noises from the room, and upon investigating, alerted family members. Social services were then called, and the child was found in the drawer, abandoned and isolated.
The mother showed little emotion when confronted by authorities.
In a police interview, the mother claimed she had not realized she was pregnant and was “really scared” after giving birth.
She explained that the drawer was never fully closed and that the baby wasn’t always kept inside it, but admitted the child was “not part of the family.”
Now in foster care, the child, described as an “intelligent little girl,” is gradually recovering from her ordeal. Her foster carer stated that it was apparent the child did not even know her own name when she was first brought into care.
The mother’s defense attorney argued that a combination of her mental health struggles, a toxic relationship with the child’s father, and the Covid lockdown contributed to the “exceptional set of circumstances” surrounding the neglect.
The mother’s other children, who were well cared for, no longer live with her.
Source-CNN
