Mother found guilty of child cruelty after baby daughter died while she drank with friend

A mother from Stoke-on-Trent has been found guilty of child cruelty after her five-month-old daughter died while she was drinking with a friend. Natasha Birks, 37, had sole responsibility for Rhian Mahoney when she placed her on a settee and opened a bottle of vodka, the Crown Court heard. Birks failed to raise the alarm as Rhian's condition deteriorated and could not provide care when the baby needed it most.

Birks and her friend consumed large quantities of vodka mixed with orange juice and Irish cream liqueur in a room separate from where Rhian slept. Birks ate nothing to counteract the alcohol's effects and left the house several times to smoke cigarettes on the night of November 1, 2021. Celebrating the eve of her friend's birthday, Birks only briefly observed Rhian from a dining room doorway rather than conducting proper checks. When Rhian did not wake for her usual feed between 4:30am and 6:30am, Birks failed to notice this deviation from routine. Between 6am and 9am, Birks was unable to recognise her daughter's deterioration in health. The baby had already died by the time paramedics were alerted.

Birks has now been convicted of child cruelty and is due to be sentenced in December. Elaine Radway, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Natasha Birks chose to drink heavily while responsible for her five-month-old baby who was entirely dependent on her. Although she did not cause her child's death or foresee this devastating outcome, her level of intoxication meant she could not provide the supervision Rhian needed. The law holds parents accountable for the safety and wellbeing of their children, and as we have seen in this case, there are serious consequences when parents fail in their fundamental duty to protect vulnerable children. Our thoughts remain with all those affected.'