Father of starved toddler begged authorities for help

THE father of a two-year-old boy who starved to death while trapped in a flat with his body had begged social services for help in the weeks before he suffered a fatal heart attack, neighbours have said.

Bronson Battersby and his father, Kenneth, 60, were found dead at their basement flat in Skegness, Lincs, 14 days after they were last seen.

Mr Battersby was said to have been “struggling to cope” with his young son in the months before his death. He was unemployed and had a heart condition that had left him severely jaundiced.

Bronson was classified as vulnerable by social services meaning he received monthly visits. He had been living with his father for six months after his mother, Sarah Piesse, 43, moved into a new flat where there was a high staircase without a banister that was unsafe for the two-year-old, neighbours said.

Social services called to visit Bronson on Jan 2, but received no reply. Staff contacted the police because they were unable to legally force entry. The same social worker visited the property two days later for an unannounced check but again there was no response, so she contacted the police once more. On Jan 9, social services were given access to the property by the landlady and the bodies of Bronson and Mr Battersby were discovered inside.

Mr Battersby’s daughter, Melanie, said: “There were so many missed opportunities that could have potentially saved Bronson’s life, and a review will bring all of this to light.”

It came as the Independent Office for Police Conduct announced it would investigate if there were “missed opportunities” by officers before the deaths.

Heather Sandy, the council’s executive director for children’s services, previously said: “This was a tragic incident, and we are supporting the family at this difficult time.

“We are carrying out a review of the case alongside partner agencies to better understand the circumstances, and we await the results of the coroner’s investigations as well.”