Mum admits putting daughter at risk

AN OLDHAM mum who had a history of drink and drug abuse allowed her young daughter to join her in a lifestyle that put her seriously at risk, a court was told.

The 13-year-old, who had been in the care of a guardian from being a toddler, had become attracted by the drifting from home to home lifestyle, and tried to emulate her.

She regularly absconded from school and home, spent more and more time with her 31-year-old mum and her behaviour worsened. On one occasion she was found and returned by police from flats in Rochdale where she admitted to drinking vodka, and had been "stoned".

She was found at the same premises on several occasions when drinking and drug-taking was going on.

Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court was told the mother, who was effectively homeless at the time, was arrested and charged with exposing her daughter to suffering and risk under the Children and Young Persons Act.

The mother, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was given a 24-week prison sentence suspended for two years and made subject of a restraining order preventing her from contacting the girl in any way without the express approval of her carer or Social Services.

Sentencing her, Judge Angela Nield told her: "She was found on a number of occasions at highly unsuitable premises where you were residing at the time, and children under-16 were not allowed.

"At 13 a girl undoubtedly has her own mind and may well have found an attraction in these premises. It was your duty to ensure she was returned immediately to her carer, and you failed in that respect."

Judge Nield said in suspending the sentence, she took account of the fact that the mother appeared to have now resolved her drink and drug abuse problems, and it was important that she formed a working unit with Social Services and her daughter's carer, to ensure she was kept safe.