Baby drowns in the bath while mother meets drug dealer to buy crack cocaine

A drug-addict mother whose baby drowned in the bath while she was buying crack cocaine shortly after being visited by social services has been jailed for six years.

Finola Cash was visited by Harrow Social Services on multiple occasions - including the day 11-month-old Ricky drowned.

The baby was submerged when his bath seat fell in to the water while his mother was outside their hotel bedsit in Edgware in north London meeting her dealer.

The baby died a month later in September 2014 in a children's hospice after suffering brain damage.

Doctors found he had crack cocaine in his blood as a result of either passive smoking or contamination from a surface or finger.

He was also suffering from a severe nappy rash caused by neglect to change soiled nappies.

Cash pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to six years. She was known to social services because of her history of drug abuse and domestic violence and had been moved in to the hotel so social services could closely supervise the family.

Cash began heavily sobbing as she listened to the judge, who stopped during the sentencing to repeat:

Sarah Plaschkes QC, prosecuting, said Harrow Social Services became increasingly concerned about Cash who had already been evicted from two other hotels for disruptive behaviour before she arrived at the Madonna Halley Hotel in August last year.

She said social workers made repeated attempts to engage with Cash who refused to co-operate.

Social workers suspected Cash may have been taking drugs following reports from neighbours but Cash failed to arrive for drug testing.

On the morning of August 23 a social worker made an unannounced visit to Cash and noted that she had no concerns.

Hours later Cash left Ricky alone in the bath, returning to discover his lifeless body after collecting drugs.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said Harrow Council has launched a review of the case.