Hull mum Kerry Abel jailed over toddler son's drowning

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-28163072

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The mother of a toddler, who drowned in a bath in Hull, has been sentenced to three years in prison for his manslaughter.

Two-year-old Riley Lewis was found floating face down, in a bath at his home in Hull, in January 2013.

At Sheffield Crown Court, Kerry Abel, 38, of Orchard Park Road, was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence. She denied the charge.

Able had eight different drugs in her system at the time of her son's death.

Sentencing her, His Honour Mr Justice Coulson said: "Riley died as a result of your gross negligence.

"He was in your care, he trusted you, you let him down, you completely let him down."

Det Sup Mathew Hutchinson, senior investigating officer at Humberside Police, said: "This was a very sad case where a small child was ultimately let down by the very person who he should have been able to depend on.

"Riley's death was needless and preventable.

"He was a normal, healthy little boy but tragically, the choices made by Kerry Abel in respect of her drug taking, resulted in his premature death."

Hull City Council said it was conducting a "Serious Case Review to see if there are any lessons which can be learned to improve the way in which local agencies work together".

Paul Dyson, independent chair of the Hull Safeguarding Children Board, said a report would be published in September.