An investigation into the death of a baby in Plymouth through neglect
says there was a "fundamental failure" to protect him. Perrin Barlow was nine
months old when he died in July 2002 in a city flat.
Perrin's mother Stephanie Horrocks, a drug addict, and partner Mark McAndrew,
were jailed last year after admitting child cruelty. Horrocks died in jail. BBC
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Communitycare.co.uk
Plymouth avoids child
death inquiry
02 June 2005
Plymouth Council has won a High Court battle to prevent an inquiry into its role
in the death of a baby whose mother was jailed for cruelty.
A judge quashed a coroner's call for an investigation into the role of "systems
neglect" in the death of nine-month-old Perrin Barlow.
Mr Justice Wilson said that, while taking Perrin into care would have saved him,
the council and other agencies had no reason to suspect there was a "real and
immediate" threat to his life.
Perrin died from bronchopneumonia, which may have been triggered by dehydration
and malnutrition, while on the child protection register and under an interim
supervision order.
His mother, Stephanie Horrocks, and her partner, Mark McAndrew, were jailed last
February after pleading guilty to child cruelty. Horrocks later died in custody.
South Devon Coroner Nigel Meadows had said the inquest should cover the possible
role of child protection agencies, citing his right to life under the European
Convention of Human Rights.
But Mr Justice Wilson said such an investigation could only be triggered if
agencies had tangible grounds for believing Perrin was in immediate danger.
He said that, apart from Perrin's low weight, there was "no history which gave
rise to significant alarm about Perrin's health or safety, let alone in terms of
a threat to his life".
Newsquest South West
thisisthewestcountry.co.uk
Cruelty mother found dead in prison
From the archive, first published Tuesday 17th Feb 2004.
A 27-year-old Plymouth mother sentenced for cruelty to her baby has died in
jail, the Prison Service said.
Stephanie Horrocks, from Camperdown Street, had just begun a two-year sentence
at Eastwood Park Prison in South Gloucestershire.
A Prison Service spokeswoman said she was taken to a Bristol hospital on Sunday
morning, where she was later pronounced dead.
There were no indications the death was self inflicted, but no one else was
being sought in connection with her death, the spokeswoman said.
A routine inquiry is under way and the coroner has been informed. A date for an
inquest has yet to be set.
Horrocks and partner Mark McAndrew, 33, were jailed at Plymouth Crown Court on
Thursday February 12 for failing to seek medical help for nine-month-old Perrin
Barlow in the 48-hour period leading up to his death on July 16, 2002.
McAndrew, who was not the child's natural father, was jailed for 15 months.
The couple both admitted child cruelty charges at an earlier hearing.
Plymouth Crown Court heard that medical tests carried out after Perrin's death
showed he was suffering bronchial pneumonia, was underweight and had signs of
dehydration.
Paramedics were called to the couple's home after he stopped breathing. The
child - wearing only a soiled nappy - was taken to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital
but staff could not revive him.
