Mother 'who burned daughter with hair straighteners' jailed

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday it was only when Lorraine Laird took the youngster to nursery school and staff noticed the little girl could not sit down without flinching in pain, that her horrific injuries came to light.

Asked what was wrong she lifted up her skirt to reveal the blisters underneath, reducing at least one of the adults to tears.

When taken to see the nursery nurse it was noted the youngster could barely walk without wincing at every step from two burns to her abdomen and right groin, the largest of which was charred in places.

The burns were both above and below the knicker line and they were matted with liquid from the injuries and stuck to damaged skin, Jason Pitter, prosecuting, told the court.

At the time the little girl described the burns being as a result of hot water and Laird blamed an accident when she was carrying a kettle, but Mr Pitter said the prosecution did not accept that account.

Doctors who examined the youngster said those burns and two other areas of reddening were not consistent with scalding but through contact with an object such as the plated hair straighteners which could reach a temperature of 170C.

Laird, 27, of Rydal Street, Ferry Fryston, Castleford, was jailed for two and a half years after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm and child cruelty by failing to get her daughter proper medical attention.

Sentencing her, Judge Sally Cahill QC said Laird still had not explained how her daughter suffered the injuries, why she suffered them or why she had not got her treatment.

"She suffered some extremely unpleasant and serious burns, according to the doctors it is likely those burns were the result of her coming into contact with a set of hair straighteners, not on one occasion but at least two and up to four."

The judge said she had seen photographs of the injuries and the largest burn measuring 13.5 by 3.5 centimetres was "quite horrendous".

Her daughter would have been in severe pain as a result but she had not sought medical treatment or even advice when she went to a pharmacist for some burns cream.

She said it was clear from reports that Laird needed long-term therapy because of problems but that would only work when she engaged with those who could help her.

Mr Pitter said it was on November 27, 2008, that Laird dropped her daughter off at nursery for the afternoon. The little girl had not attended the previous day, the first she had missed, and there had been no call or explanation about her absence.

It was when she went to sit down on a carpet with other youngsters she showed she was in pain. When she was asked if her mother had put anything on her injuries she said some talc and cream.

Laird had bought burns cream from a pharmacist the previous day without seeking any other medical help for the terrible injuries. She told police she feared if she had her daughter would be taken from her. The child was later placed with foster carers.

Allan Armbrister, for Laird, said she still found it very difficult to come to terms with what she had done and the fact she had allowed her daughter to remain in pain for so long. She had expressed suicidal tendencies.