A MOTHER who exposed her children to living conditions a judge described as ‘wholly unsuitable for any child, or indeed, any human, to live in’ has escaped a jail sentence.

The woman, in her 30s, from Ulverston, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at South Cumbria Magistrates Court to three counts of assault, ill-treatment, neglect, and abandonment of a child, causing unnecessary suffering and injury.

The offences relate to an incident where police were called by concerned neighbours to a property in Ulverston.

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Prosecutor Beth Pilling said a neighbour described seeing a child 'hanging from a window'.

The neighbour expressed concern for the child, described a 'discussion about the child being hungry', but due to difficulties gaining access to the property, they could not get food to the child.

Police were called to the property, who had managed to contact the defendant, who had gone to a local Greggs to buy food for the children.

Upon her return, in an 'upset state', police then inspected the property, finding a 'smashed-glass pane from an inner door', the court heard.

They also described seeing a 'large amount of rubbish', 'mouldy takeaway packages', 'full bin-liners', a kitchen 'not being used', and a bathroom as 'not being suitable'.

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Ms Pilling made a submission that this was a 'prolonged incident of neglect to the property'. She said the children were not malnourished and there was 'no psychological, emotional, or physical harm because of the state of the property'.

Ms Nelson, mitigating, pointed out that in March 2022 the defendants' longstanding assistance and involvement with social services had ceased. She said she had ‘effectively no support whatsoever overnight - from that point on, the condition in her property deteriorated' - arguing that the incident was not prolonged, but 'extended'.

Judge Ian Unsworth, sentencing, said: "Anyone who was to take a look at the photographs police took would rightly be shocked at the state of the property.

"These rooms were in total disarray.

"The police entered the property and were met with as is, as acknowledged by the defendant, conditions which can only properly, objectively, be described as disgusting."

Handing the defendant an 18-month community order with a rehabilitation requirement of 30 days, he said: "It is abundantly clear from reading the papers, that there is much more to her (the defendant) than the facts of this case – for too long, it has been clear that she is unable to cope.

"She is going to be encouraged to be engaged with a womens community matters programme, as well as the mental health team."