UK mom keeps daughter hidden in drawer for three years, bags jail term

A UK mother has been sentenced to prison for child cruelty after keeping her baby hidden in a drawer beneath her bed for nearly three years, leaving the child severely malnourished and developmentally delayed.

The case, heard at Chester Crown Court, unveiled harrowing details of abuse and neglect that left the child physically, psychologically, and socially scarred.

According to gulfnews, the girl, found weeks before her third birthday at the family home in Cheshire, was malnourished, dehydrated, and suffering from severe developmental delays. Her hair was matted, her skin covered in rashes, and she had deformities caused by prolonged neglect.

The mother, whose identity is withheld to protect the child, kept her hidden from her family, including her siblings and partner, by confining her in a drawer of a divan bed. Feeding her inadequately with a syringe, the mother also failed to seek medical care for the child’s cleft palate.

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The truth came to light when the mother’s partner returned home one morning after she had left and heard noises from the bedroom. Investigating, he discovered the child and alerted relatives. Social services found the girl sitting in the drawer later that day.

A social worker described the scene as horrific, stating that the mother showed no emotion and casually admitted to keeping her daughter in the drawer. “I was probably the only other face [the child] had seen apart from her mother’s,” the social worker said.

The court heard that the child had been kept isolated from sunlight, fresh air, or any social interaction. When hospitalised, her developmental age was assessed to be between 0 and 10 months.

Sentencing the mother, Judge Steven Everett condemned her actions. “What you did defies belief,” he said. “You starved that little girl of love, affection, interaction, a proper diet, and medical attention. The consequences were catastrophic.”

He called the ordeal “a living death” but noted that the child, described as an “intelligent little girl,” is slowly recovering.

During police interviews, the mother claimed she was unaware of her pregnancy and gave birth alone, frightened. She admitted the child was “not part of the family,” hiding her to prevent the child’s abusive father from discovering her existence.

Her defence cited mental health struggles, an abusive relationship with the father, and challenges worsened by the COVID-19 lockdown. However, prosecutors highlighted the lasting impact of her actions.

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Rachel Worthington of CPS Mersey-Cheshire said, “This child has never had a birthday or Christmas present. She hadn’t known daylight or fresh air and didn’t respond to her own name when found.”

The girl, now in foster care, is receiving the attention and support she was denied. Her foster carer described the heartbreaking moment they realised the child didn’t recognise her own name.

The mother pleaded guilty to four counts of child cruelty, including neglect, abandonment, and failure to seek medical care. Prosecutors expressed hope that the girl will recover and eventually lead a fulfilling life.

“This case is a tragic reminder of the importance of vigilance in safeguarding children,” Worthington said.

The mother’s other children, whom she was said to have cared for well, are no longer in her custody.