Unattended youngster left with severe burns

COURT: Woman sentenced to 140 hours of unpaid work after filling a baby bath with boiling water

A young child suffered second degree burns on his body after he and a baby bath filled with boiling water were left unattended, a court has been told.

Kayleigh Glover appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court after admitting wilfully ill-treating the child on August 7 last year.

The 22-year-old, who also admitted to biting the boy on his right forearm, accepted that she neglected the youngster in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering.

Glover, of Gilfillan Road in Dunfermline, was ordered to complete 140 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody.

She was given an extended period of 12 months to carry out the work as she is currently 25 weeks pregnant.

Depute fiscal Clare Kennedy told the court: “The accused indicated that she had filled a baby bath using a kettle as she didn’t have any hot water at the time.

“She poured the kettle into the baby bath and thereafter went into the kitchen to put the kettle back.

“She then heard the child screaming and when she went back into the bathroom she saw that the baby bath was on its side as the child had tipped the bath.

“She later indicated that she had bitten the child after they had bitten her earlier in the day.

“She indicated that she had done so not to injure the child but it had been done in an attempt to correct his behaviour.”

Defence solicitor Brian Tait told the court that the child suffered second degree burns to his hands and feet following the incident.

He said that the youngster had undergone several operations including skin grafts on the affected limbs and requires to be monitored by medical staff as he grows.

Mr Tait explained that his client realised her mistake of filling the bath with hot water rather than pouring cold water in first and that the child was in another part of the property at the time.

He stated that his client was now having “to see the effects of her shortcomings” on a daily basis.

Sheriff Simon Collins QC said: “I don’t understand how it could ever be regarded as appropriate to bite a child of that age. It is a very concerning case.

“But for the circumstances whereby the plea was accepted and the positive terms of the social work report, this would have been a custodial matter.

“However, there is an alternative to custody available to me which is unpaid work. Given that the accused is pregnant, I’m going to allow an extended period for it to be completed in.

“Miss Glover, you should understand that if you fail to carry out the hours of unpaid work or to comply with the supervision, you will be brought back to this court and dealt with.”

“I don’t understand how it could ever be regarded as appropriate to bite a child of that age. It is a very concerning case. SHERIFF SIMON COLLINS QC