Perrin Barlow aged 9 Months
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| Plymouth Social
Services Agencies 'failed' to protect baby BBC News 10 May, 2005 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 News 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. |
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