Mum left baby home alone to take children to school

A MUM-OF-THREE left her seven-month-old baby daughter home alone each day to take her other children to and from school, a court has been told.

Aysiea Mahroof, 27, admitted a single charge of child neglect after leaving her daughter locked in the family home in Ceri Road, Townhill, between April 1 and June 15 this year.

Swansea Magistrates court heard Mahroof left her daughter either in her cot asleep or playing, for 40 minutes before school, and 20 minutes just before lunchtime, every school day during the period.

Julie Sullivan, prosecuting, said a neighbour contacted police with concerns on June 14.

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"She had concerns regarding a baby of around seven months being left in the house alone whilst the mother was taking the other two children to school. Witnesses had said this happened on a daily basis and the usual pattern was that the mother would leave the house at 8.40am in the morning and would return at 9.20am and the witnesses knew the baby was in the house alone because the father was at work," said Mrs Sullivan.

She said Mahroof would then leave the house again at 11.15am, returning at 11.35am.

"The witness decided enough was enough and decided to contact the police," said Mrs Sullivan.

Officers went to the house at 11.30am on June 14 and found the doors were locked and the baby was in her cot with no other adult at home.

When Mahroof returned home ten minutes later she was arrested and replied: "If I don't do it again, can I go?"

In interview she said she did not know she was not allowed to leave the child home alone.

"She said every time she did, her heart pounded," Mrs Sullivan told the court.

Mahroof's solicitor Laura Sherwood said she did not have any contact with the rest of her family after refusing to enter into an arranged marriage, and choosing a different husband.

She told the court her client left the baby at home as she struggled to get the buggy down the steep steps outside.

Mahroof told the court she had almost injured herself by falling down the stairs and was scared of her baby being hurt.

"I felt if my baby was there, she was safe and sound. I was only afraid of the steps," she said.

Mrs Sherwood added that social services had been contacted, but were no longer involved with the family.

The case was adjourned and Mahroof is expected to be sentenced on July 19.