18 January 2024 , 08:39
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The landlady of the flat where a father and his two-year-old son were found dead has told the Mirror of the moment she discovered them.
Landlady Maria Clifton-Plaice, re-living her new nightmare, had been called on to help by desperate social workers concerned over two-year-old Bronson Battersby and his father Kenneth at their rented flat.
Maria told how Kenneth, 60, who had supported her family during their heartache, had become a friend during his 10 years of being one of their many tenants at properties in Skegness, Lincolnshire.
The mum, in her mid-50s, told how she was the first person to discover the bodies on January 9 - as the police force investigating the case has since referred itself to an independent watchdog.
She told the Mirror: “The police didn’t go in first, it was me with two female social workers, and I found Kenny’s body, not knowing that his son was lying dead too behind him. It was a horrible tragedy and we are devastated. I cannot tell you how horrible it was. I never expected to find Kenny and Bronson like that. I don’t think I will ever get over it.”
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Haunted Maria, who is still undergoing grief therapy after losing two members of her family in a freak accident nearly four years ago, told of her latest trauma. Kenneth, who had just celebrated his 60th birthday, had been solely caring for Bronson, the youngest of his three children after splitting from their mum Sarah.
Bronson and Kenneth lived in the basement flat in this building (Supplied)
Bronson was described as a 'beautiful little boy'The family was on the radar of Lincolnshire County Council social services, who are now conducting a rapid review. Kenneth is believed to have died from a heart attack before little Bronson passed away days later from starvation and dehydration.
Maria explained: “I was alerted by social workers when they couldn't contact Kenny and was asked to go to his basement flat with my spare key for emergency. He always used the back entrance in but I used the internal entrance and went with two ladies from social services, one younger, and one older. We opened the door and walked down the stairs to the front lounge but it wouldn’t open fully open.
“When I saw Kenny I knew he was dead. I had already seen the bodies of my daughter and husband - the worst thing ever - so I just recognised what happens when you die. Kenny was dead on the floor and lying on his back and partly blocking the door."
She told how Kenny, who had become a pal, had been due to visit family in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, over Christmas with Bronson, so she assumed her son was still away with relatives when there was initially no sign of him in the dark flat.
She explained: “We had called Bronson's name and there was no answer, we had checked the one bedroom to make sure he wasn’t there. We looked in the kitchen and the dog was there, alive starving hungry, she had pulled everything off the worktops trying to find anything it could eat and that’s why there was rubbish all over the floor.
“We called 999 to report Kenny’s body and had no idea Bronson was lying dead too. We went out into the street, all distraught, and waiting for the paramedic to come.
“He arrived alone and we held open the door for him, showing him where Kenny's body was. We watched on as he climbed over Kenny and found a toy doll on the floor.
Floral tributes have ben left outside the property (Supplied)“He looked at the doll and said ‘On no!’ The body of Bronson was lying on his own, behind his dad. He had reportedly died from starvation and dehydration. I couldn’t look at his little body, I didn't see him, thank God!”
Tearful Maria said: “I felt devastated. I’m already in therapy and suffering from PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) because of the loss of my husband and daughter."
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Maria, who lives in Skegness near the doomed seaside building of converted flats she rents out, believes: “No one person is to blame for this tragedy that happened.”
As social services and police face inquiries, she said: “A dad and his son are dead and you cannot point the blame, saying why didn't police or social services do this or that, but I appreciate questions will be asked.”
Maria told how Kenny “wasn’t in the best of health” before his sudden death, saying: “But Kenny is Kenny and if he was feeling ill or wasn't coping well he would not tell anyone. He would put on a front. He was a character!”
The landlady - looking after the properties after her landlord husband’s tragic death - told how she had “no concerns “ over Kenny over Christmas as he was due to be spending it away with his son.
Kenneth, 60, is pictured with his son, for whom he became sole carer (Facebook)
Heartbreaking footage captures the toddler celebrate his birthday with a Teletubbies cakeShe said: “He told me he was taking Bronson to visit family in Sheffield and I was glad he was going away because he had been going through a rough time. He had an accident in the flat shortly before Christmas and was suffering from a bad foot.
“Carpet fitters had laid new lino in the kitchen and he was trying to move back a fridge or washing machine and it dropped on his foot. He was hobbling around after the accident and was in a lot of pain, bless him, and my partner Steve even offered to drive him to Sheffield with Bronson to spend it with family.
“But he didn’t take up the offer. We had seen him in the run-up to Christmas to wish him and all tenants a Merry Christmas. The next thing I knew was frantic calls from social workers a few weeks later and the awful tragedy that had unfolded."
Kenneth and his son were last seen alive on Boxing Day by a neighbour. Maria told how she first found out Bronson was living solely with his dad in November last year after a fallout with his mum. The parents were joint custodians.
She said: “He was trying to be a good dad, if he was drinking I hadn't seen any evidence. I even said to him ‘Bloody heck Ken' for taking on his son alone, and I was proud of him for doing that.
Toys are pictured outside the basement flat in Skegness (Supplied)
(Supplied)“But I think it took a toll on him, mentally and physically, and it was playing with his mind, he had a few issues, some with Sarah, and a lot was going on which I don’t want to divulge. We were trying to help him through that and rectify it. It would have all been sorted out in the New Year.
A Lincolnshire County Council spokesperson confirmed to the Mirror that Kenneth and Bronson were discovered by a social worker and the property's landlady on January 9. They said it was "unlawful" for the social worker to otherwise gain entry, adding they are "devastated". The spokesperson said: "On Tuesday the 9th [the social worker] went round again to see Bronson. The landlady arrived with a key and went inside with the social worker where they found tragically two bodies, which is just awful and devastating for all involved."
A spokeswoman for Lincolnshire Police told the Mirror: "Police were made aware of the deaths of a 60-year-old man and a two-year-old child at a property in Skegness, at around 3.25pm on January 9. Investigations have been carried out and the deaths are not being treated as suspicious. The matter has been passed to the coroner’s office.”
A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct said: “We can confirm that we have received a referral in relation to this matter from Lincolnshire Police and we are now assessing that to determine what further action is required from us.”
Heather Sandy, executive director for children’s services, said: “This was a tragic incident, and we are supporting the family at this difficult time. We are currently carrying out a review of the case alongside partner agencies to better understand the circumstances, and we await the results of the coroner’s investigations as well. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved.”