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Call me a facist but I really do believe people should have a licence to have children.
From today's Argus :-
Mother gave heroin to son aged 9
By Miles Godfrey
Emma Kelly became a drug addict after her partner died
# Emma Kelly became a drug addict after her partner died
A drug addict mother who admitted supplying heroin and crack cocaine to her son from the age of nine is facing a lengthy spell in prison.
Emma Kelly, 31, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying class A drugs to the child from August 2002 to May 2005, when he was aged between nine and 11.
Kelly, formerly from Heathfield, also admitted two counts of child cruelty against the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Judge Anthony Niblett, sitting at Hove Crown Court, said that had it not been for Kelly and her son being arrested by police on suspicion of shoplifting, social services might not have intervened.
continued...
Kelly, who wore a black vest, sat with her head bowed in the dock as the Crown outlined the case against her.
Ibitayo Adebayo, prosecuting, said police became involved in January last year after Kelly and her son were arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and taken to Eastbourne police station. He said: "While at the station, the police received information suggesting the defendant had supplied her son with drugs. The officers obtained a warrant to search her address in Heathfield.
"In the first-floor bedroom, which appeared to be used by the boy, there were several spoons and burnt-out foil, which suggested recent drug use."
A Sussex drug referral worker who saw the boy noted that his pupils were dilated, suggesting he was going through a withdrawal from drugs.
Kelly admitted to drugs workers that her son was opiate-dependent and had been using 15ml of methadone daily for about five weeks.
Mr Adebayo said: "She said she was aware her own supply of heroin was going missing and that her son was smoking it."
The boy was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital, where it was discovered he was physically and emotionally underdeveloped.
Kelly was first arrested on suspicion of child cruelty and supplying methadone but declined to comment in police interview.
Mr Adebayo said her son was unwilling to give a statement against his mother but eventually relented and gave a video interview last February. By this time he was in foster care.
He said the first drug he took was heroin at the age of nine and that he was ten when he first tried cocaine. After taking the heroin, he soon became addicted to it and he disclosed this to his mother.
He described how he would sometimes be driven by his mother as she toured Sussex and London in search of drugs.
Mr Adebayo said the last time he was given drugs was on May 5 last year, when Kelly arranged to meet him at school and gave him heroin and cigarettes.
He threw the heroin wrap out his bedroom window and it was discovered by his foster parents.
In April 2004, East Sussex social services visited the family.
At that stage, Kelly denied supplying her son with drugs but admitted he smoked cigarettes.
By November 2004, there were concerns the boy had only been to school for nine days since September.
It was also noted that whenever Kelly was arrested, her son often accompanied her.
Mr Adebayo said: "There was a physical deterioration in both the defendant and her son.
"There was obvious use of drugs at that home address."
A child protection case conference was arranged for mid-December 2004.
Judge Niblett questioned why social services did not intervene to protect the boy's welfare between August 2004 and January 2005, despite receiving repeated signals he was being exposed to drugs.
He said: "It is a matter of grave concern.
"I would like to know what steps East Sussex County Council will take to ensure there is not a repetition."
Rebecca Upton, defending, said Kelly's drug abuse was triggered by the death of her partner in 1996.
Before then she had had a promising career as a jockey.
Ms Upton said Kelly felt "truly disgusted" at her actions and expressed her "utmost and sincerest remorse".
Meanwhile, her son, now aged 12, is in foster care and is said to be thriving.
Judge Niblett adjourned sentencing until today.
From today's Argus :-
Mother gave heroin to son aged 9
By Miles Godfrey
Emma Kelly became a drug addict after her partner died
# Emma Kelly became a drug addict after her partner died
A drug addict mother who admitted supplying heroin and crack cocaine to her son from the age of nine is facing a lengthy spell in prison.
Emma Kelly, 31, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying class A drugs to the child from August 2002 to May 2005, when he was aged between nine and 11.
Kelly, formerly from Heathfield, also admitted two counts of child cruelty against the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Judge Anthony Niblett, sitting at Hove Crown Court, said that had it not been for Kelly and her son being arrested by police on suspicion of shoplifting, social services might not have intervened.
continued...
Kelly, who wore a black vest, sat with her head bowed in the dock as the Crown outlined the case against her.
Ibitayo Adebayo, prosecuting, said police became involved in January last year after Kelly and her son were arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and taken to Eastbourne police station. He said: "While at the station, the police received information suggesting the defendant had supplied her son with drugs. The officers obtained a warrant to search her address in Heathfield.
"In the first-floor bedroom, which appeared to be used by the boy, there were several spoons and burnt-out foil, which suggested recent drug use."
A Sussex drug referral worker who saw the boy noted that his pupils were dilated, suggesting he was going through a withdrawal from drugs.
Kelly admitted to drugs workers that her son was opiate-dependent and had been using 15ml of methadone daily for about five weeks.
Mr Adebayo said: "She said she was aware her own supply of heroin was going missing and that her son was smoking it."
The boy was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital, where it was discovered he was physically and emotionally underdeveloped.
Kelly was first arrested on suspicion of child cruelty and supplying methadone but declined to comment in police interview.
Mr Adebayo said her son was unwilling to give a statement against his mother but eventually relented and gave a video interview last February. By this time he was in foster care.
He said the first drug he took was heroin at the age of nine and that he was ten when he first tried cocaine. After taking the heroin, he soon became addicted to it and he disclosed this to his mother.
He described how he would sometimes be driven by his mother as she toured Sussex and London in search of drugs.
Mr Adebayo said the last time he was given drugs was on May 5 last year, when Kelly arranged to meet him at school and gave him heroin and cigarettes.
He threw the heroin wrap out his bedroom window and it was discovered by his foster parents.
In April 2004, East Sussex social services visited the family.
At that stage, Kelly denied supplying her son with drugs but admitted he smoked cigarettes.
By November 2004, there were concerns the boy had only been to school for nine days since September.
It was also noted that whenever Kelly was arrested, her son often accompanied her.
Mr Adebayo said: "There was a physical deterioration in both the defendant and her son.
"There was obvious use of drugs at that home address."
A child protection case conference was arranged for mid-December 2004.
Judge Niblett questioned why social services did not intervene to protect the boy's welfare between August 2004 and January 2005, despite receiving repeated signals he was being exposed to drugs.
He said: "It is a matter of grave concern.
"I would like to know what steps East Sussex County Council will take to ensure there is not a repetition."
Rebecca Upton, defending, said Kelly's drug abuse was triggered by the death of her partner in 1996.
Before then she had had a promising career as a jockey.
Ms Upton said Kelly felt "truly disgusted" at her actions and expressed her "utmost and sincerest remorse".
Meanwhile, her son, now aged 12, is in foster care and is said to be thriving.
Judge Niblett adjourned sentencing until today.
What makes someone do this sort of thing? Lacking intelligence? Desperate? Evil?
