Parents behind bars after admitting neglecting toddler who died in Townhead

The parents of a toddler who died after horrific neglect are behind bars.

Margaret Wade, 38, and Marie Sweeney, 37, admitted neglecting the tot at the High Court in Glasgow.

They supposedly looked after Lauren Wade in a filthy flat described by one detective as the worst he had seen.

The tragic two year-old went without proper food or care for months.

She was rushed to hospital in March 2015, but died around 30 minutes later.

A judge heard how Lauren was dirty, severely underweight and riddled with “thousands” of head lice at the time.

Two older children who lived with the pair also suffered, but fortunately survived.

The jobless duo were later charged by police – after Wade said she had “no guilt” over the death.

The pair today faced a culpable homicide allegation.

But, prosecutors accepted their guilty pleas to an amended charge of the wilful ill-treatment and neglect of Lauren.

They also admitted to the same crime in connection with the other two children.

Wade and Sweeney, of the city's Townhead, were remanded in custody pending sentencing in the New Year.

The court heard the pair had been a couple for more than 15 years and both regarded themselves as Lauren's “parents”.

They initially lived at a flat in Pinkston Drive in the city's Sighthill before leaving for another property in nearby Fountainwell Drive in 2011.

Prosecutor Bill McVicar said the case involved “the same basic ill treatment and neglect” of Lauren and the other two children.

This included not keeping the youngsters clean as well as not providing proper food, clothes and medical care.

Mr McVicar: “The most significant effect of the failure to provide a proper diet is the malnutrition of Lauren which caused complications leading to her death.”

The court heard Lauren was “plainly unwell” and “emaciated” for days before she died.

A week before the death, Wade claimed to a neighbour Lauren had been “screaming all night” due to “teething”.

But, Mr McVicar said: “In fact, Lauren had a full set of teeth by that stage.”

Days later, Wade then insisted a “pale and tired” Lauren had a cold.

On March 20 2015, a 999 call was made after Lauren was found to be “unresponsive”.

The child was rushed to hospital – but around 30 minutes later she was pronounced dead.

Tiny Lauren was described as “skinny, dirty and unkempt” at the time.

She also had a sodden nappy, bald patches and “thousands” of head lice.

Mr McVicar: “Paramedics later noticed that the cover she had been lying on was covered in lice and fleas.

“They had to clean and decontaminate the ambulance.”

Wade told nurses Lauren had been suffering from a virus for a couple of days.

Mr McVicar: “She kept her hood up to disguise her own infestation of head lice.

“She appeared dirty and smelled of body odour.”

A post mortem revealed Lauren had been the victim of “severe neglect”.

There was also evidence that lice had been there for “over 17 months” of her life.

Police probed the horrific living conditions Lauren and the other children had been subjected to.

One detective who later viewed the Foutainwell Drive flat branded it “one of the most disgusting houses” he had visited in his police career.

Mr McVicar: “It was neither a suitable nor safe environment for children.”

The court heard it was littered with rubbish, leftover food, dirty plates and clothes.

There were also “hundreds” of insects and flies due to the stinking mess.

Mr McVicar: “The kitchen was so full of bags of rubbish that there was barely enough space to open the door.

“There were numerous empty Pot Noodle cartons all with flies.

“Pot Noodle appeared to be the staple family diet.”

Some of the rubbish found in 2015 dated back to two years earlier.

In one bedroom, the clutter was so bad that the carpet was “almost invisible”.

Mr McVicar: “It is clear the failure to provide proper accommodation was a long-standing issue which did not simply emerge in the days or weeks before the death of Lauren.”

One visitor had found the house “so dirty” she refused to stay.

It emerged that earlier – in June 2014 - a school nurse made an unprompted visit amid concerns.

Information was then passed onto social workers. A health visitor went on to discover the flat “messy” including cigarette butts on the floor.

A further visit was then planned – it was during this that the home was found to be clean and “unrecognisable”.

But, Mr McVicar explained: “Since that visit the conditions deteriorated again...causing all three children to live again in an unsafe and unhygenic environment.

“This exposed them to the risk of infection and un-necessary suffering – in the case of Lauren may have played a part in her death.”

The court heard Lauren died due to “complications with malnutrition”.

Her parents were initially treated as “witnesses” during the police probe.

Regarding the condition of the flat, it was claimed there was a “problem” with bins being emptied at the block.

The pair went on to be assessed by social workers.

Mr McVicar: “Margaret Wade accepted no responsibility for her failings in basic parenting.

“She said she had no guilt over Lauren's death.”

Sweeney meantime accepted she should have been “more forceful” regarding the state of the house.

The were initially charged with murder and first appeared in the dock in July 2017.

By the time the case called at the high court, the allegation had been reduced to culpable homicide following “up to date medical evidence”.

The pair then pled guilty today to the amended charge with the accusation they killed Lauren removed.

The crime spanned between June 2014 and March 2015.

They also admitted neglecting the other two children between 2007 and 2015.

Their lawyers today asked for their bail to be continued.

Sweeney's QC Ian Duguid said: “Thankfully a death of this type is a rarity in this country in the 21st century.”

But, Lady Stacey locked them up as sentencing was deferred for reports.

The judge said: “You have pled guilty to very serious charges. I am not prepared to allow bail to be continued."