Dartford mother jailed for leaving child home alone for five days (From News Shopper)
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Dartford mother Natalie Terry jailed for leaving child home alone for five days
5:18pm Wednesday 18th January 2012 in Top Stories By Alan Woods
Natalie Terry was sentenced to 18 months in prison for child neglect and failing to surrender to police.
A DARTFORD mother has been jailed for leaving her child at home on its own for five days.
Natalie Terry, aged 28, pleaded guilty to child neglect and failing to surrender to police after leaving her five-year-old child alone at her previous address, in Willow Road, Dartford.
Jurors at Maidstone Crown Court heard how Terry left her child in the cold house without food.
The child eventually sought refuge from a next-door neighbour and when police later visited the home, they found animal faeces on the floors.
Kent Police investigating officer DC Fleur Hardie said: “Children deserve to grow up in a loving environment where they are protected from harm, not subjected to it.
“I am pleased with this sentence which shows we will do everything in our power to bring such offenders to justice and work with social services to protect children.”
Terry was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
