A Wigton dad who neglected two children and spat foul verbal abuse while in a drunken stupor in the dead of night has been punished by a judge who called his criminal conduct “appalling”.
Neighbours initially called police after hearing noises and seeing the man outside his property with two youngsters in the early hours of July 10 last year.
He was stumbling around, spouted verbal abuse and the children were crying.
The man – who can’t be named to protect their identity – was not present when a PC arrived. However, the officer was later called back to the property and found him in a “terrible state” and “off his head” under the influence with no sign of the kids.
Initially curled up in a ball on his front step, the man had a head injury but verbally abused the officer and paramedics as they tried to help. He grabbed the officer’s body-cam and dragged her around, causing concern as back-up was 10 minutes away, and leaving her shaken.
The man was arrested and it emerged the two youngsters had been taken to another address. Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson told Carlisle Crown Court: “No harm, mercifully, had befallen the children.” However, he added: “They did describe the drunken behaviour of their father the night before.”
The court heard the father had drunk whisky and taken other substances, defence lawyer Jeff Smith describing the man’s “absolute shame” at what had unfolded. He admitted two child cruelty charges, along with assaulting an emergency worker and cocaine possession.
Recorder Katherine Pierpoint imposed an 18-month community order comprising a rehabilitation requirement and a two-month night-time curfew.
“I hope you are deeply ashamed,” said the judge. “I accept that whilst that was out of character for you, your behaviour was appalling”
Recorder Pierpoint added: “The fact is, that evening, you were in no capable state to care for your children. It is a matter of luck that they were not seriously hurt. Anything could have happened to them.”
