Bruised child, 7, was beaten and left to live in squalor

Mar 13 2008 by David Higgerson, Liverpool Daily Post

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD child was beaten and left to live in squalor surrounded by dog faeces, alcohol and drugs.

A concerned passer-by saw the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, being dragged and hit by a woman on a street.

She called the child’s school after noticing the uniform.

Teachers at the school, who were already alarmed by the child’s soiled clothing, persistent head-lice and frightened manner, alerted social services.

When workers visited the child’s home, aided by the police, they found it was in a “disgusting state”.

The house was covered in dog faeces, empty beers cans and bottles were strewn around the property and the fridge was bare.

They also discovered there was no linen on the beds or clean clothes.

Yesterday, Michelle Carlton, 34, was sentenced to 30 weeks in prison after admitting willful assault and neglect of a person under 16.

The alcoholic was also banned from ever working with children again.

Wearing a tracksuit and her hair tied back, she showed no emotion as she was led away from the dock.

Her former partner, Anthony Wallace, was spared prison, but sentenced to a community order, with a requirement he attends a substance-related offending course.

The frail 61-year-old, of Bedford Road, Bootle, was also ordered to do 140 hours unpaid work in the community and be supervised for the next 18 months.

Deborah Gould, prosecuting, told the court the child had been surrounded by people who were drinking heavily, taking drugs and sometimes fighting. After being taken to a doctor, it was discovered that the child was covered in bruises which were consistent with hitting and kicking.

Ms Gould added that, since being removed from the house and taken into foster care, the child had shown a remarkable turn-around.

Ian Harris, defending, told the court Carlton’s offending had been connected to her increasing alcoholism.