Police statement after baby boy dies in 'squalid Stoke-on-Trent home'
Police have promised to protect children after a baby boy died in a squalid Stoke-on-Trent home after being exposed to monkey dust by his parents.
A coroner today delivered an open verdict into the death of a 'neglected' seven-week-old Ronnie Higgerson. Medical tests failed to ascertain exactly how tot died in a car seat at his family's Cobridge home.
But his parents - Kayleigh Clarke and Michael Higginson - were both convicted of charges of child cruelty with neglect following a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after failing to take Ronnie to hospital in the days prior to his death. Clarke was handed a 27-month prison sentence - with Higginson dodging jail.
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An inquest heard the family had five different social workers from Stoke-on-Trent City Council in a chaotic three-month period before tragedy struck on November 26, 2019. The council's children's services was rated inadequate at the time.
Following the verdict, a Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “Ronnie Higginson’s death was tragic and our thoughts remain with his family and friends. Following Ronnie’s death on 26 November 2019, our Major Investigations Department carried out an investigation.
“In March 2023, Ronnie’s mother was sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment. She was found guilty of two counts of assault/ill-treat/abandon a child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering/injury following a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in October 2022.
Ronnie’s father was given a 15 months’ suspended sentence after he was found guilty of one count assault/ill-treat/abandon a child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering/injury.
“We will continue to work with our partners to protect children like Ronnie from harm, to protect and safeguard children and prevent tragic cases like this one.”
StokeonTrentLive has approached Stoke-on-Trent City Council for a statement. Instead a Stoke-on-Trent Safeguarding Partnership spokesperson said: “Following the tragic death of Ronnie Higginson and in accordance with statutory guidance, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Safeguarding Board undertook a rapid review. The lessons from this review have been applied across all agencies to ensure children are protected now and in the future.
"Stoke-on-Trent Safeguarding Partnership remain committed to promoting good quality inter-agency working to protect the wellbeing of children and young people within the city. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Ronnie today.”