Runaway Mum Dossed In Field With New Born

A teenage runaway mum, who roughed it in a field with her four-and-a-half month-old baby daughter and homeless abusive boyfriend, has been told to grow up by a judge.

The 19 year-old, of Ingram Court, Sumner Road, West Croydon did nothing to report bruises inflicted on the baby's face by the father, who was jailed for eight months earlier this year.

Now a mother-of-two, the young woman, who cannot be named to protect the child's identity, pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to one count of child cruelty between April 1 and May 30,last year.

“You are the mother of a delightful little girl and she looks to you for the support of a mother and she did not get that support,” Judge Ruth Downing told the defendant.

“You have a responsibility as a mother that you are going to have to take very seriously.”

Prosecutor Mr. Peter Clements told the court: “The defendant is emotionally immature and is unable to cope and adapt to the needs of a parent.

“She failed to provide adequate care or accomodation for her daughter and lived for several days in a field in South Croydon.

“Having noted bruising on her daughter's face this defendant did nothing to seek advice or attention for her daughter.

“She would sleep rough despite having a room at her mother's house and she had a history of running away and disappearing.”

Her 20 year-old boyfriend was not welcome at the family home, resulting in the defendant leaving with the baby to be with him.

They have since had a second child and both infants are being raised by their maternal grandmother.

When the grandmother returned home from holiday on May 25 her daughter and the baby were gone and she reported them missing.

A few days later the child was left with a friend of the young couple and had obvious bruising to the face.

The baby was taken to hospital and the police were called.

Eight seperate bruises were identified, caused by “prodding or pinching,” added Mr. Clements and the child had also suffered a scratch to the cheek.

The mother was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes six months supervision, and was ordered to perform 80 hours community service.