Drink binge mother left children

AdamD · 16-11-2009, 22:31

Source - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/l...re/8362815.stm

I can't believe people like this are allowed to have kids, let alone keep the ones they have.

Quote:

A mother who abandoned her four young children to go on a 24-hour drink and drug binge has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Rebecca Stevenson, 22, of Abraham Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, left her two boys and two girls, aged from three months to four years, in July.

She was jailed for 20 weeks, suspended for two years, after admitting child cruelty, Preston Crown Court heard.

Judge Norman Wright said it was "an appalling state of affairs".

It was with "merciful good luck" that none of the children was seriously injured through her "absolute dereliction" of duty, Preston Crown Court heard.
Stevenson said she put her children to bed at 2130 BST and proceeded to drink a bottle of wine before indulging in cider and cocaine when friends called round.

Then in "a moment of madness" she told the court she left the children to their own devices as she went out to a house party.

She later carried on drinking throughout the day at pubs before returning home at 2230 BST the following day.

Steven Wild, prosecuting, said the children were discovered at 1000 BST that day when Stevenson's stepfather called at her home.

Gary L · 16-11-2009, 22:40

So she neglected them for 25 hours, and was found 37 hours after by one of the fathers.
the sad thing about it is knowing that the children were hungry, and she got away with it.

17-11-2009, 00:21

Moronic **** like this so deserve forced sterilisation....

Mick Fisher · 17-11-2009, 00:23

Well she is probably an alchoholic and a drug addict. Once she got going she probably forgot she ever had any children. It is a sad state of affairs but is certainly not a new phenomenom.

It's nice to hear the children are now being cared for by the Grandparents instead of being taken into care or fostered. Hopefully they are now better off.

Julian · 17-11-2009, 07:17

I wonder if she had been in a tapas bar whether she would have been prosecuted....

Pierre · 17-11-2009, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian

I wonder if she had been in a tapas bar whether she would have been prosecuted....

Probably. I don't think child neglect is judged on a class basis, which is what I believe you're alluding to.

iFrankie · 17-11-2009, 10:30

Now if she left a dog in the car on a hot day she would get jail time, sorry if thats a bad example.

LondonRoad · 17-11-2009, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre

Probably. I don't think child neglect is judged on a class basis, which is what I believe you're alluding to.

Wasn't there a case a while back involving children being neglected whilst the parents enjoyed the ambience of a tapas bar? In that case something did happen to one of the children but I don't recall any prosecution.

Pierre · 17-11-2009, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by LondonRoad

Wasn't there a case a while back involving children being neglected whilst the parents enjoyed the ambience of a tapas bar? In that case something did happen to one of the children but I don't recall any prosecution.

I thought he was alluding to the Madaline Mcann scenario.

anna the mum · 17-11-2009, 10:42

`ve read/heard about Rebecca who walked out on her kids. I`ve heard Rebecca is bad and all but what i have not heard in the reports is any information at all about her circumstances wahtsoever. And I would have liked to hear that.
- How on earth does she cope with four under fives??? What support does she have?..
My experience of motherhood has taught me that raising any one child under 1 is often a job for more that just one person. It also showed me just how ununderstanding about that our culture is, with any lack of extended family/community support whatsoever.
Her youngest is only three mths, so there is every possibility of extreme mental and physical exhaustion or even postnatal depression, for example. Has anyone asked?!!!
DO YOU REALLY THINK A SINGLE (ANY) MOTHER (Parent)WALKING OUT ON HER KIDS CAN EVER BE ABOUT HAVING FUN???

There is another way of looking at it: This woman is a hero every day of her life. And that day, she wasn`t.

I`d like to ask everyone else who so easily feels judgmental: `How much do you know about sleep deprivation? How much do you know about parenting at all...? Single parenting?

Whatever has lead that woman to her current circumstances, they are what they are now. She most likely needs some help and nurture herself , in order to provide it to her kids. YOu can`t pour form an ampty dish.
Lets help her, for the sake of the kids.
And do you really think the breaking the family for ever or for whatever period of time, separating the kids out and putting around institutions is a good solution here? -TALK TO SOMEONE WHO`S BEEN THROUGHT IT.
It is so difficult sometimes to get out of out bubble and imagine other people`s circimstances.

I am a single mother of one. I love my child more than life, but have had screamed, almost shook my child, shut the door and left, too . (Are you going to come and take mu child away?..)
She(Rebecca) has four.

Anna, a sometimes (my ex- is great and very involved) single parent.
St. Leonards on Sea

Russ · 17-11-2009, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by anna the mum

I`d like to ask everyone else who so easily feels judgmental: `How much do you know about sleep deprivation? How much do you know about parenting at all...? Single parenting?

Plenty thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anna the mum

She most likely needs some help and nurture herself , in order to provide it to her kids.

And the first step in getting help for her is ensuring she does not get unsupervised access to her children.

Gary L · 17-11-2009, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

And the first step in getting help for her is ensuring she does not get unsupervised access to her children.

Don't be ridiculous.

Pog66 · 17-11-2009, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by anna the mum

- How on earth does she cope with four under fives??? What support does she have?..

Well I would have thought there was an element of choice on her side to have 4 kids under five. Unless of course she had 4 drug & drink filled binges...

Quote:

Originally Posted by anna the mum

DO YOU REALLY THINK A SINGLE (ANY) MOTHER (Parent)WALKING OUT ON HER KIDS CAN EVER BE ABOUT HAVING FUN???

Well she did a damn good impression of having fun for 24 hours if you ask me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian

I wonder if she had been in a tapas bar whether she would have been prosecuted....

Whilst IMHO the McCanns were culpable - I would suggest that there is a slight differance between being a few hundred yards away and checking on your kids every 15-20 mins - than leaving them for 24 hours !!

Russ · 17-11-2009, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

Don't be ridiculous.

And so speaks the voice of experience.

She's proven she has a major problem and until she proves she's making progress I don't see her as being fit enough to be in charge of children.

punky · 17-11-2009, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by anna the mum

I'm sorry Anna, but your post is a disgrace.

My parents worked all hours God sent to raise 3 boys and give us the best possible start in life. They did it all without having to rely on the state to bring up their children and without going on 24 hour drink and cocaine binges.

For long periods of time my dad even raised us single-handedly as my mum had severe PND for 2 of the births. There have been so horrificly hard times but a decent and responsible ethic has got us through.

So, irresponsible scrotes like Stephenson who have 4 children (probably by 3/4 dads) by the age of 22 that she can't look after - nor even seems to care about looking after - and the apologists like you cut no ice with me.