Woman sunbathed as toddler diced with death on city rooftop
Neighbours watched in horror as a toddler wandered about unsupervised on the rooftop of a Perth building.
The child then perched precariously on the edge of a 12foot drop for several seconds as the woman, who was meant to be looking after him, soaked up the sun.
The heart-stopping moments when the youngster diced with death were recalled at Perth Sheriff Court this week when 23-year-old Katherine Reeves, of Rannoch Road in Letham, appeared for sentence.
She sobbed in the dock as she was spared a prison term after pleading guilty to wilfully neglecting the child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health.
Instead, she will be supervised by the social work department for two years - and will have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work within the next six months.
The accused, said by her lawyer to “bitterly regret her foolish behaviour” allowed the child to play on the rooftop between two Rannoch Road addresses on May 11 last year with no perimeter protection.
Part of the charge which alleged the toddler was swung – and held over the edge of the roof – by an adult under the influence of alcohol was deleted.
Former co-accused Paul Mitchell (21), also of Rannoch Road, had his not guilty plea accepted to a charge of culpably and recklessly causing and encouraging the child to fetch stones from the edge of the rooftop.
That charge had also alleged that he held the child repeatedly over the edge of the roof and swung it by the shoulders, to the danger of its life, while he was under the influence of alcohol.
The court was told previously that Reeves had climbed over a metre-high railing to get access to the roof space.
When interviewed by police, she told them: “It was a stupid mistake.”
Solicitor David Holmes told the court on Wednesday that the incident had “ruined her life”.
He added: “She recognises her stupidity and it is something she will always regret.”
Imposing the Community Payback Order, Sheriff Gillian Wade branded the accused’s actions as “extremely foolish and dangerous”.
A review of Reeves’ progress on the order will take place on May 3.
“I am not satisfied that your engagement with the social work department services has been satisfactory up until now.” Katherine Reeves arrives at court