Drunk woman ‘neglected children in her care’

Laura Brockley, 23, was “highly intoxicated” when police found her in her Aberdeen flat with the youngsters on January 10.

One of the children, who were both under the age of five, was struggling to walk in a soiled nappy because it was so full.

The woman admitted neglecting children in her care when she appeared at the city sheriff court.

Fiscal depute Jamie Dunbar said the offence happened at about 7.15pm that night.

He told the court: “Police had cause to attend the locus in relation to a separate matter.

“When the police arrived, they saw the accused within the locus along with next door neighbours.

“The police described that the locus was in a state of disarray and the accused was found to be highly intoxicated and slurring her words and staggering when standing upright.

“She was also described as being unable to focus on the conversation between herself and the police.”

Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that both children had food stains on their clothes.

They were playing with parts of a broken shelf when police officers arrived at the property. Family members of the children were contacted to take them away from the flat and Brockley was charged.

Defence lawyer described his client as being in a “pressure cooker situation”. He said Brockley had been pregnant and suffered a miscarriage with twins earlier that week.

Sheriff Alison Stirling deferred sentence for reports. Brockley, will return to court next month.