Mother jailed after leaving soiled toddler home alone so she could go shopping

**Honey** · May 5th, 2009, 11:14 PM

Kelly Grimes, who left her two-year-old daughter home alone while she went out shopping, has been jailed

A mother who left her two-year-old daughter home alone while she went out shopping has been jailed for nine months.
Kelly Grimes, 28, abandoned the toddler for six hours while she enjoyed a day out with her mother, the child's grandmother.
Swindon Crown Court heard that officers were called to the house shortly after neighbours raised concerns about the child's safety.
Police raided the house and found the youngster crying in her cot clutching an empty milk bottle.
She was wearing a heavily-soiled nappy - which had been secured with brown gaffer tape - and was hot to touch.
The heating had been left on and the toddler was dressed in a thick woollen cardigan.
Grimes, from Highworth, near Swindon, Wilts, was arrested following the 'wicked' neglect on September 22 last year.
Grimes, who had been shopping with her own mother, was held shortly after her return at 8.30pm.
The toddler was subsequently taken away by social services and remains in the care of foster parents.
Grimes was jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to wilfully neglecting the child and causing her unnecessary suffering.
The court heard that it was not the first time that Grimes had left the child alone.
Judge Charles Wade told her: 'You left your daughter alone for up to five or six hours without anyone able to give her the attention that she needed.
'You left her so that she was without food or water, in a soiled nappy in an unsafe and unprotected environment.
'That is an appalling thing to do with a child of this age, even wicked.'
He added that no-one knew how the incident had impacted on the toddler.
Chris Smyth defending, said Grimes had not deliberately set out to harm her own child. 'It has happened by her inadequacies,' he said.

Mother jailed after leaving soiled toddler home alone while she went on six-hour shopping trip | Mail Online

**Algernon** · May 5th, 2009, 11:21 PM

Wouldn't the grandmother inquire about her grandbaby's whereabouts?

And it's pretty sick that this mom has left her toddler alone more than once, for up to SIX hours!!! She should get more than 9 months in jail, IMO.

**buttmunch** · May 5th, 2009, 11:24 PM

I was wondering about grandma as well but figure she did the same to her daughter. This whole story is disturbing but it's really not much more than the McCains did with their 3 kids, in a foreign country no less.

**McJag** · May 5th, 2009, 11:25 PM

The Grandmother had to condone tthis behavior. I would like to see both horsewhipped. Disgusting. I hope the child is taken away. She could have died in so many ways.

Originally Posted by buttmunch

I was wondering about grandma as well but figure she did the same to her daughter. This whole story is disturbing but it's really not much more than the McCains did with their 3 kids, in a foreign country no less.

Butt! They were within sight & were checking every half hour-not a good thing of course, but this woman was gone-way out of hearing for SIX HOURS. Yes,this woman is far worse!

**buttmunch** · May 6th, 2009, 05:28 AM

Ok, six hours is more than the every 30 minute check but it's still kind of the same, especially when you realize that they weren't in sight. Plus, I'm back to being highly suspicious of the McCain's, particularly after their latest little PR episode, which was as calculated as ever. Grrr...why don't parents in general start putting the needs of their kids before their own? And taht means staying home with them when they're bad as well as good. Yeah, it sucks to curtail your good time but sometimes you need to be jailer or else just a parent. Fucking morons, the lot of 'em.

**cmmdee** · May 6th, 2009, 11:23 AM

Damn? And Grandma had to know.

Poor kid.

**msdeb** · May 6th, 2009, 12:15 PM

wanna bet, after rehab (prison) she gets her child back?

**chattykathy** · May 6th, 2009, 03:29 PM

I hope not! Hope the poor little thing gets adopted by someone that actually wants her.

**L1049** · May 6th, 2009, 06:30 PM

APPROVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Novice** · May 6th, 2009, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by McJag

Butt! They were within sight & were checking every half hour-not a good thing of course, but this woman was gone-way out of hearing for SIX HOURS. Yes,this woman is far worse!

Actually they said that they were within sight but its been proved that they weren't. Just another McCann lie.
Plus the friends finally admitted to lying to the police because they'd left the children an hour with out checking.

Originally Posted by msdeb

wanna bet, after rehab (prison) she gets her child back?

It does say prison, so I guess that it will be..... and I hope that she doesn't get the child back. I think that (from what I understand from my friend that works in that enviroment) that she won't and any others will be checked extremetly carefully, if not taken from her after birth.....

**buttmunch** · May 7th, 2009, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by Novice

Actually they said that they were within sight but its been proved that they weren't. Just another McCann lie.
Plus the friends finally admitted to lying to the police because they'd left the children an hour with out checking.

That's what's always bothered me about this case...the lies that seemed to be covering up something more than stupid behavior. I know it's maybe not as bad as this dumbass woman (and her idiotic mother) but still I think anyone who leaves their kid alone is an asshole.