Judge slams social services over death of baby boy

A judge has slammed the social services system in Manchesterl for ‘a startling lack of urgency’ in the days leading up to the death of a baby boy.

Alexander Sutherland was just 18-months-old when his charred body was discovered strapped into his buggy next to a gas fire at his mother’s home.

The fire still had three bars lit and Manchester crown court heard that Alexander had been dead for at least two days before police were called.

He had faeces on his hands, legs and buggy, had suffered severe nappy rash and had apparent bruising on his head and torso in an indescribable scene.

His mother Tracey Sutherland, who was found by police walking in the rain in her pyjamas smelling of alcohol nearby, had cancelled her appointment with a health worker just days before Alexander was discovered.

The appoitment was re-arranged for the following week, despite Alexander being deemed ‘medium risk’ by police.

He was found dead two days before the next appointment.

Sutherland, from Porlock Road, Baguley, Wythenshawe, admitted child cruelty at an earlier hearing, and was jailed for two years and three months.

Judge Clement Goldstone said: “When you asked for an appointment on November 5 to be put back one week, social services agreed without any monitoring of the situation, and a lack of urgency in dealing with the situation.

“Even allowing for resource difficulties I find this startling, even more so, bearing in mind it was between the original assessment and the new date that Alex died.”

Sutherland rang police on November 10, 2009, and said there was “a dead baby” at her home.

Neil Usher, prosecuting, told the court: “The defendant stated the baby was cold, and she had been with the baby for three days, but had not been able to let go of him.”

When paramedics arrived, they found Alexander in his buggy, around four feet from the gas fire, which had three to four bars still lit, Mr Usher said.

Sutherland was found nearby wandering in the rain, wearing a brown sweater, pyjamas and green flip flops. She told police “just arrest me now”.

Police were called to Sutherland’s home a month earlier on October 4 after a family row.

A day later, a multi-agency review was held and it was decided a strategy should be put in place to help the family.

A health worker visited her that day and was due to visit again on November 5, but Sutherland rang up and cancelled the appointment.

It was rebooked for November 12 but Alexander was discovered dead on November 10 – Sutherland’s birthday.

There was no direct link between Alexander’s death and his mother’s neglect, the court was told.

Mark Ford, defending Sutherland, said support was not forthcoming when it was needed.

He added: “She felt she had no-one to turn to.

“Changes in the defendant’s condition are likely to have coincided with a deterioration in her mental condition and that deterioration was in all probability linked from time to time with excessive reliance upon alcohol.

Distressed

“But I submit she is, at heart, a good and caring parent who has become distressed to an almost indescribable degree.”

Following the case Alexander’s dad Mark Hughes, released a tribute for the tot.

He said: “No sentence could be given that would ever bring him back. We miss him and think of him everyday. Today has given us some closure and we would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in this sad case.”

Pauline Newman, Manchester’s director of children’s services, said: “Alex’s death was a terrible tragedy and we would once again like to offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

A serious case review is now being carried out by the independent Manchester Safeguarding Children’s Board.