Mother jailed over neglect to baby who died in Stoke-on-Trent

A mother has been jailed for causing unnecessary suffering by neglect to her seven-week old baby boy who died in 2019.

Kayleigh Sarah Denise Clarke, 33, of Preston, was sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment on Friday (24 March). She was found guilty of two counts of assault/ill-treat/abandon a child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering/injury following a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in October 2022.

Michael Melvyn Higginson, 53, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, was sentenced to a 15 months’ suspended sentence after he was found guilty of one count assault/ill-treat/abandon a child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering/injury.

Police were called to a report of a child in cardiac arrest by colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service at an address on Derwent Street, Cobridge, at 8.55pm on Tuesday 26 November 2019.

Seven-week-old Ronnie Higginson was taken to hospital where he sadly died at 9.20pm.

“This was a truly tragic case" - DCI Cheryl Hannan

From about Friday 22 or Saturday 23 November 2019, Ronnie had been noticeably unwell. He was snuffly, congested, off his food and struggling to breath. The court heard that despite being clearly unwell and despite being advised by a number of people that Ronnie should see a doctor, neither defendant sought any form of medical attention for him.

While the defendants did not cause his death, the court heard that this failure was likely to cause Ronnie unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

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