Woman cleared of drugging and burning two-year-old

A WOMAN accused of feeding drugs to a toddler and burning the youngster with lit cigarettes was cleared yesterday.

Charlene McGregor was on trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court accused of holding the two-year-old down, hitting her and burning her with a hot safety pin.

But Sheriff Robert Anthony yesterday accepted that there was not enough evidence.

The 30-year-old, of Linthouse, Glasgow, instead pled guilty to neglecting the tot by failing to get medical attention for her injuries between 1 October and 12 November, 2007.

The court earlier heard from Dr Sarah Hill, a consultant at Yorkhill Hospital who claimed that she had "grave concerns" over burns and bruises she found on the child's body.

Dr Hill told the court that the youngster had "an awful lot of bruises and severe burns" when she was admitted to the hospital in November last year.

The child had to stay in hospital for two weeks to be treated for the injuries.

Dr Hill added: "Taking all of the injuries together, we have a two-year-old who has an awful lot of injuries, an awful lot of bruises and severe burns, and no real explanation for them. It was of grave concern to me."

The doctor added that she believed the injuries had been inflicted and were not accidental.

Throughout the trial Miss McGregor blamed her friend Steven Ellis for the injuries, claiming that he had inflicted them when he was left alone with the girl.

Mr Ellis – who was cleared of murder in 1996 – was originally charged with assaulting the girl but no further proceedings were taken against him.

The girl is now being cared for by other family members.

Sheriff Anthony deferred sentencing Miss McGregor until next month for background reports.