Mother, 20, jailed for leaving her baby in dirty cot for a WEEK at Christmas while she partied with friends and only returned to feed her Cheerios and microwave meals

• When police entered the home, the 15-month-old had been on her own for more than 24 hours
• The house was dark and cold, with dirty clothes, empty wine bottles, beer cans and dirty nappies strewn over the floors
• Neighbours called police after hearing the little girl’s screams
• The little girl had not been changed for days and had nappy rash so severe she was bleeding
• Mother wept as she was jailed for 15 months for neglect

A young mother was jailed today for leaving her baby home alone every day for a week while she went out partying.
The selfish 20-year-old left her 15-month-old daughter in her cot at her house in Powys, Mid Wales, while she stayed out all night drinking with friends.
A court heard heard that she would 'pop back' every day to feed the starving baby Cheerios breakfast cereal and a microwave meal.

Neglect: The mother wept as she was sentenced to 15 months in jail at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court

She would then return to a friend’s flat to carry on partying, during the holiday season last Christmas and New Year.
Neighbours called police after hearing the little girl’s screams coming from the house in Brecon.
The court heard two officers arrived to find the house in darkness, very cold inside and with all the rooms in a total mess.
Prosecutor Michael Hammett said: 'The house was in a state of disarray with rubbish, dirty clothes, empty wine bottles, beer cans and dirty nappies strewn over the floors.
'One of the officers went into the bedroom and found the little girl subdued in her crib.

Out drinking: The 15-month-old baby was left alone at the house in Brecon, pictured, for long periods at a time while her mother partied at a friend's flat

'There was no heating on in the house and she was partly covered by a blanket.'
The court heard that the baby was taken to the nearby police station and officers went out to a local shop to buy nappies, clean clothes and baby wipes.
Mr Hammett said: 'When they gave her food and drink she grabbed them as if she had been starved.'

You neglected her for a very long time. Your daughter was left in the dark and cold, she was hungry and thirsty and had not been changed for days.- JUDGE JOHN CURRAN

The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told police she had been back to the house on four occasions to feed her baby but would then leave her at home alone again.
When police entered the mother’s house, the girl had been on her own for more than 24 hours.
She was examined by a doctor and found to have severe nappy rash, which was bleeding.
The single mother admitted neglect, weeping as she was jailed for 15 months at Merthyr Crown Court.
Geraint Jones, defending, said: 'The mum hopes to rebuild her relationship with the her little girl very slowly when she leaves prison.'
Judge John Curran jailed her saying: 'You may have gone back to the house on occasions but the fact is you neglected her for a very long time.
'Your daughter was left in the dark and cold, she was hungry and thirsty and had not been changed for days.'
The NSPCC described the case as an 'extremely depressing one'.
Chief executive Andrew Flanagan said: 'Sadly, child neglect is an all too common occurrence, with around 21,000 children currently on the child protection register in Britain for this very reason.
'Thankfully, as in many cases of neglect, it was the neighbours who did the right thing and raised the alarm.
'This shows the need for everyone to be vigilant about young children being home or out alone.
'The message to anyone worried about a child is clear: don't wait until you're certain - call the NSPCC or social services without delay.'