Glasgow woman who allowed toddler to take drugs walks free from court

A Glasgow woman who allowed a toddler to ingest drugs has walked free from court.

Claire Gallacher, 38, committed the crime at her home in Crookston on April 29, 2020.

The two-year-old girl became unwell after consuming Gallacher's sedative medication.

The child earlier fell and did not cry or speak which raised the alarm that something was wrong.

She was then taken to hospital where blood tests showed that benzodiazepines were in her system.

Gallacher pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to exposing the child in a manner likely to cause her unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

It goes on to state this was done by causing her to consume a quantity of benzodiazepines to the danger of her life.

The court heard Gallacher saw the child in her bedroom on the day of the incident.

Prosecutor Lauren Aitchison said: "She had two feet on the head board and one hand on the windowsill as if to pull herself up on the windowsill.

"She took a tumble and fell on the mattress of the bed face and nose first.

"The child did not cry or say anything."

Gallacher reported that the child lost her centre of gravity and did not answer her.

She also stated that the child was unsteady on her feet.

Gallacher later took the child to hospitals and initial tests did not flag anything wrong.

Miss Aitchison added: "A blood test came back that the drug in question was in her system."

The child was kept in hospital overnight and fortunately her presentation improved.

Gallacher was then arrested.

Neal McShane, defending, told the court: "Clearly this is a tragic case and it's accepted the consequences could have been far more serious.

"She was a user of the substance that was in the child's system.

"This is a person who made a terrible mistake but has made efforts to turn her life around and appears to be doing so.

"Clearly she requires to be punished."

Sheriff Kevin McCarron put Gallacher under supervision for 18 months.

He also slapped a tag on her for four months keeping her indoors between 7pm and 7am.

The sheriff also ordered her to use addiction services.

He said: "I considered at first blush a custodial sentence due to the risk you exposed the child to.

"However, I have looked at the background reports and the progress you have made to turn your life around."

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