A mum who left her 12-year-old son home alone living in squalor has been jailed for 12 months.
Social workers found appalling conditions at the property in Spalding when they arrived to find the boy inside on his own.
Richard Sheldon, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court on Monday that there had been no electricity in the flat for 48 hours and no hot water for a month.
Mr Sheldon said: “It appeared the boy had been sleeping and living in the lounge on very sparse resources. The flat was unhygienic. The fridge was empty. He had no idea how he would eat later.
“He indicated the state of affairs had been going on for some time. His mother would stay away two to three nights a week. He expected his mother home that night but he wasn’t sure when.
“He was taken to the office of the social services. En route they passed the defendant who was with two friends. She turned and walked away from him.”
The mother (33) admitted a charge of child cruelty in May 2015.
The court was told that in July 2014 she was given a police caution for a similar offence.
Judge Michael Heath told her: “You prioritised your drinking over the care of your son. This is so serious that the only sentence that I can justify is a custodial sentence and that has to be immediate.”
Alison Summers, defending, said the woman was on benefits and under genuine financial pressure at the time.
Miss Summers said the woman had a drink problem and would benefit from further help from the authorities.
“She is inadequate rather than bad. Whilst her son has suffered neglect she has also neglected herself.”
- Media outlets have agreed not to name the mum in order to protect the identity of the boy.
