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'Lack of urgency' in neglect case | 'Lack of urgency' in neglect case |
(19 minutes later) | |
A judge has criticised social services for their "lack of urgency" after a 13-month-old baby was found dead next to a lit gas fire at a house in Manchester. | A judge has criticised social services for their "lack of urgency" after a 13-month-old baby was found dead next to a lit gas fire at a house in Manchester. |
Alexander Sutherland was found in his pushchair in Baguley. His mother, Tracy Sutherland, was jailed for neglect at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday. | Alexander Sutherland was found in his pushchair in Baguley. His mother, Tracy Sutherland, was jailed for neglect at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday. |
He showed signs of decomposition and was covered in faeces, the court heard. | He showed signs of decomposition and was covered in faeces, the court heard. |
A serious case review is being carried out. Manchester City Council said it was "looking at its involvement". | A serious case review is being carried out. Manchester City Council said it was "looking at its involvement". |
Sutherland, 39, from Baguley, admitted neglect. | Sutherland, 39, from Baguley, admitted neglect. |
Judge Clement Goldstone QC, who sentenced her to 27 months in prison, said social services' "lack of urgency when dealing with the situation, even allowing for resource difficulties, is startling". | Judge Clement Goldstone QC, who sentenced her to 27 months in prison, said social services' "lack of urgency when dealing with the situation, even allowing for resource difficulties, is startling". |
Social workers became involved with the Sutherland family shortly after Alexander's birth. | Social workers became involved with the Sutherland family shortly after Alexander's birth. |
Unexplained injuries | Unexplained injuries |
However after nearly a year, in September 2009, they declared the case closed as he did not seem to be at any risk. | However after nearly a year, in September 2009, they declared the case closed as he did not seem to be at any risk. |
This changed on 5 October, when social services received a call following a family row. After an assessment, Alexander was deemed to be at "medium risk". | This changed on 5 October, when social services received a call following a family row. After an assessment, Alexander was deemed to be at "medium risk". |
However, there was no further contact for a month and social services and NHS Manchester allowed a meeting arranged for 5 November to be cancelled by Sutherland. | |
Sutherland was sentenced to 27 months in prison | Sutherland was sentenced to 27 months in prison |
Five days later, the emergency services received a call from Sutherland saying she had been at home alone with her baby for three days. | Five days later, the emergency services received a call from Sutherland saying she had been at home alone with her baby for three days. |
Paramedics found the house was unlocked and discovered Alexander in his pushchair next to a lit gas fire. | Paramedics found the house was unlocked and discovered Alexander in his pushchair next to a lit gas fire. |
The court heard how Alexander - who was covered in faeces and had unexplained injuries on his body - might have been dead for two days when he was found. | The court heard how Alexander - who was covered in faeces and had unexplained injuries on his body - might have been dead for two days when he was found. |
A post-mortem examination could not establish a cause of death but found that Alex had been subjected to neglect in the days before he died. | A post-mortem examination could not establish a cause of death but found that Alex had been subjected to neglect in the days before he died. |
However no causal link was found between the neglect and his death. | However no causal link was found between the neglect and his death. |
Pauline Newman, director of children's services at Manchester City Council, said after the court hearing: "Alex's death was a terrible tragedy and we would once again like to offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends. | Pauline Newman, director of children's services at Manchester City Council, said after the court hearing: "Alex's death was a terrible tragedy and we would once again like to offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends. |
"We are examining closely our involvement with the family in the context of the multi-agency serious case review which is being carried out by the independent Manchester Safeguarding Children's Board." | "We are examining closely our involvement with the family in the context of the multi-agency serious case review which is being carried out by the independent Manchester Safeguarding Children's Board." |