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Home alone mother's fresh chance Home alone mother's fresh chance
(10 minutes later)
A mother who abandoned her four young children to go on a 24-hour binge has been given another chance by a judge after breaching her sentence terms.A mother who abandoned her four young children to go on a 24-hour binge has been given another chance by a judge after breaching her sentence terms.
Rebecca Stevenson, 23, from Blackburn, Lancashire, broke the rules of her curfew on New Year's Day.Rebecca Stevenson, 23, from Blackburn, Lancashire, broke the rules of her curfew on New Year's Day.
Judge Norman Wright said jail would be "unjust" and decided to impose another curfew at Lancaster Crown Court.Judge Norman Wright said jail would be "unjust" and decided to impose another curfew at Lancaster Crown Court.
Stevenson's 20-week jail sentence was suspended for two years in November after she admitted child cruelty.Stevenson's 20-week jail sentence was suspended for two years in November after she admitted child cruelty.
Stevenson, of Abraham Street, had left her two boys and two girls, aged from three months to four years, on their own in July 2009 while she went out drinking and taking drugs.Stevenson, of Abraham Street, had left her two boys and two girls, aged from three months to four years, on their own in July 2009 while she went out drinking and taking drugs.
'No second chance''No second chance'
One son was found "hysterical" and soaked in urine, as was her three-month-old boy, who was also covered in sick in his cot. One son was found "hysterical" and soaked in urine, as was her three-month-old boy, who was also covered in vomit in his cot.
Her four-year-old daughter was discovered leaning out of the lounge window, having tried to feed the baby using a chair to climb up to a cupboard to reach a tin of powdered milk.Her four-year-old daughter was discovered leaning out of the lounge window, having tried to feed the baby using a chair to climb up to a cupboard to reach a tin of powdered milk.
Judge Wright also originally imposed an eight-week curfew between the hours of 2000 GMT and 0600 BST, warning her she faced jail if she breached it.Judge Wright also originally imposed an eight-week curfew between the hours of 2000 GMT and 0600 BST, warning her she faced jail if she breached it.
Lancaster Crown Court heard that she breached the curfew on New Year's Day, but was so drunk she could not remember where she had gone.Lancaster Crown Court heard that she breached the curfew on New Year's Day, but was so drunk she could not remember where she had gone.
"It seems to me it would be unjust today to implement that [jail] sentence so I am going to give you one further chance," said Judge Wright."It seems to me it would be unjust today to implement that [jail] sentence so I am going to give you one further chance," said Judge Wright.
"There will be no second chance.""There will be no second chance."
There is a simple solution here, do not drink, or you will be sentencing yourself Judge Norman Wright
Stevenson, who currently lives with a friend in Farnworth, Greater Manchester, left the house on three separate occasions in the early hours of 1 January - at one point for an hour and 40 minutes.
She had also failed to attend a probation appointment on New Year's Eve, the court heard.
Richard Bennett, defending, said the longer breach happened when a friend took her out in his car.
"She cannot remember where they went because she had consumed a large amount of alcohol," he said.
Judge Wright imposed another curfew, which will last for four weeks, from 2000 GMT to 0700 GMT.
He told Stevenson he was sorry to see her back in court, having hoped that she would heed his previous warning.
"You went off for your own selfish pleasure and you could not have given a jot about the order I made," said the judge.
"It would be easy to give a knee-jerk response and say you go to prison.
"There is a simple solution here, do not drink, or you will be sentencing yourself."
Stevenson has no contact with her two sons, who now live in Scotland with her extended family, but she sees her two daughters during supervised visits.