Evil mum and partner guilty of starving two-year-old girl to death in filthy insect-infested flat
Vile Margaret Wade, 36, and partner Marie Sweeney, 37, left Lauren Wade without proper food or water for eight months in Glasgow
AN evil mum and her partner who starved a tragic toddler to death at a filthy flat are facing jail after being convicted of neglect.
Vile Margaret Wade, 36, and partner Marie Sweeney, 37, let two-year-old Lauren Wade go without proper food or water for eight months, in a filthy flat described by one detective as the worst he had seen.
A judge heard how Lauren was dirty, severely underweight and riddled with “thousands” of head lice at the time.
Two older children who lived with the pair also suffered, but fortunately survived.
The jobless duo were later charged by police – after Wade said she had “no guilt” over the death in Glasgow.
The pair were today convicted of wilful ill-treatment and neglect of Lauren.
Prosecutor Bill McVicar said the case involved “the same basic ill treatment and neglect” of Lauren and the other two children.
This included not keeping the youngsters clean as well as not providing proper food, clothes and medical care.
Mr McVicar: “The most significant effect of the failure to provide a proper diet is the malnutrition of Lauren which caused complications leading to her death.”
The court heard Lauren was “plainly unwell” and “emaciated” for days before she died.
A week before the death, Wade claimed to a neighbour Lauren had been “screaming all night” due to “teething”.
But, Mr McVicar said: “In fact, Lauren had a full set of teeth by that stage.”
Days later, Wade then insisted a “pale and tired” Lauren had a cold.
On March 20 2015, a 999 call was made after Lauren was found to be “unresponsive”.
Paramedics later noticed that the cover she had been lying on was covered in lice and fleas. They had to clean and decontaminate the ambulance
The child was rushed to hospital – but around 30 minutes later she was pronounced dead.
Tiny Lauren was described as “skinny, dirty and unkempt” at the time.
She also had a sodden nappy, bald patches and “thousands” of head lice.
Mr McVicar: “Paramedics later noticed that the cover she had been lying on was covered in lice and fleas.
“They had to clean and decontaminate the ambulance.”
Wade told nurses Lauren had been suffering from a virus for a couple of days.
Mr McVicar: “She kept her hood up to disguise her own infestation of head lice.
“She appeared dirty and smelled of body odour.”
A post mortem revealed Lauren had been the victim of “severe neglect”.
There was also evidence that lice had been there for “over 17 months”.
Police probed the horrific living conditions Lauren and the other children had been subjected to.
One detective who later viewed the Foutainwell Drive flat branded it “one of the most disgusting houses” he had visited in his police career.
The court heard it was littered with rubbish, leftover food, dirty plates and clothes.
There were also “hundreds” of insects and flies due to the stinking mess.
Some of the rubbish found in 2015 dated back to two years earlier.
In one bedroom, the clutter was so bad that the carpet was “almost invisible”.
It emerged that earlier – in June 2014 - a school nurse made an unprompted visit amid concerns.
Most read in news
Information was then passed on to social workers. A health visitor went on to discover the flat “messy” including cigarette butts on the floor.
A further visit was then planned – it was during this that the home was found to be clean and “unrecognisable”.
The court heard Lauren died due to “complications with malnutrition”.
Sweeney's QC Ian Duguid said: “Thankfully a death of this type is a rarity in this country in the 21st century.”
But Lady Stacey locked them up as sentencing was deferred for reports.
The judge said: “You have pled guilty to very serious charges. I am not prepared to allow bail to be continued.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours