Inverness child neglect case sees 10 month sentence for mum
Former model prioritised socialising over parenting
The mother of a toddler has been jailed for 10 months after admitting to neglecting him over a five month period.
Former model Amanda Hardie was in tears as she was led away in handcuffs to serve her punishment which Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood said was because: “she placed her own desires, work and socialising ahead of those of your children”
Clyde died from cot death, not the effects of neglect, with the Sheriff adding: “You are not being punished for Clyde’s death. I fully accept his death is not at your door"
Hardie pleaded guilty at Inverness Sheriff Court in March to wilfully ill-treating, abandoning, neglecting and exposing two year old Clyde Campbell to unnecessary suffering or injury in her flat in Mackintosh Road, Inverness between October 1st, 2013 and February 23rd, 2014.
Clyde, born on January 20th, 2012, died in his bed and it took some time before his cause of death was established as Sudden Infant Death in Childhood – or cot death.
Further medical enquiries established no clinical basis to link her neglect of Clyde to his death. There was no evidence of disease, infection, injury, malnourishment or dehydration.
However the court heard that Hardie would go out to work in a local nightclub and then on to stay at her boyfriend’s while Clyde was left at home without adult supervision.
She was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in 2009 but before that she suffered post natal depression after the birth of her first child.
As a result of Clyde’s death, she now has post traumatic stress. She had a difficult childhood and got involved in abusive relationships.
Her counsel Lorenzo Alonzi went on to explain that she was in a relationship with Clyde’s father, Kevin from about 2005 until some time in the second half of 2013.
Following sentencing, Police Scotland's Detective Chief Inspector Iain Smith of the Major Investigation Team said: “This harrowing case understandably shocked and saddened communities across the city of Inverness and wider Highlands"
“Amanda Hardie had a duty of care towards her children which she chose to ignore, not only on the night of Clyde’s tragic death but on several other occasions"
“Officers and partners who dealt with the incident and carried out the subsequent investigation are to be commended for their efforts in bringing this sad case to a conclusion. Residents of MacIntosh Road and the community of Raigmore are to be thanked for their assistance and strength shown throughout the investigation.”