Mother found not guilty of child cruelty

Jurors at Sheffield Crown Court found the 27-year-old not guilty of three charges of cruelty to a child under the age of 16.

The prosecution alleged the mother had locked her five-year-old son and two daughters, aged three and 19 months, in the house while she went to the pub in September last year.

Neighbours raised the alarm and police and social workers contacted the woman on her mobile phone.

She returned to open up the house and the children were found alone but safe and well in an upstairs bedroom.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she had left the children in the care of her ex-boyfriend while she had gone out.

She walked free from court after the jury returned a not guilty 
verdict following a four-day long trial.