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Mother of drowned toddler admits she was 'stupid' to leave him alone in bath

Lisa Passey and Wayne Dale stand accused of manslaughter (Picture: SWNS)
Lisa Passey and Wayne Dale stand accused of manslaughter (Picture: SWNS)

The mother of a 13-month-old boy who drowned in a bath has admitted that she was ‘stupid’ to leave him alone for 15 minutes.

Lisa Passey, 28, and former partner Wayne Dale, 45, left son Kian and another two-year-old boy alone while they talked to a friend who was visiting their home in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.

Kian was later discovered in an overflowing bath by Mr Dale – with his death believed to be consistent with drowning after bubbles were discovered in his lungs.

Lisa Passey stands accused of manslaughter (Picture: SWNS)
Lisa Passey stands accused of manslaughter (Picture: SWNS)

Giving evidence at Worcester Crown Court, where the pair stand accused of gross negligence manslaughter, Ms Passey admitted that it was ‘down to me and Wayne…its our fault.’

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Breaking down in tears as she recalled the day her son died, Ms Passey said: ‘I don’t want any pity. I was stupid for not going upstairs.’

The court also heard how Ms Passey was in the garden of her home with a friend, drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette when the tragic incident occurred in September 2015.

Wayne Dale was with Ms Passey on the day of the incident (Picture: SWNS)
Wayne Dale was with Ms Passey on the day of the incident (Picture: SWNS)

Mr Dale later joined them for a cigarette, and to ‘burn’ a CD for a friend.

It has been suggested that the two-year-old may have turned the taps on while he was left unsupervised.

Ms Passey was also questioned about the differing accounts that she had given to police, social services and doctors – including a claim that the children had been left in an empty, dry bath.

She told Jonas Hankin QC, prosecuting: ‘I was all over the place. If you’d gone through it yourself, losing a child, you’d realise you’re still trying to grieve.’