Sister of baby, 2, found with dead dad says she doesn't blame social services
The sister of Bronson Battersby who was found next to his dad's body says she does not blame social services and said they "did what they could."
The two-year-old was found lifeless alongside his father, Kenneth, aged 60, inside their home in Skegness, Lincolnshire on January 9. Melanie Battersby, from Sheffield, said she was "proud" of her father for the relationship he had with Bronson and said their bond was "heartwarming" to watch.
Kenneth, who had a pre-existing heart condition, sadly died of a suspected heart attack. It is believed that he passed away just days after Christmas. Melanie has welcomed an inquiry to see whether any failings took place. It comes as Lincolnshire County Council said they will be carrying out a "rapid review".
Speaking about social services to BBC Breakfast, she said: "I don't place any blame at all on them. I believe that social services and the police did what they could within the powers that they had and the information that they were given.
Kenneth and Bronson Battersby were discovered inside their house on January 9 (Facebook)
Bronson Battersby was sadly found dead whilst holding onto his father Kenneth (Facebook)"I'm glad that an inquiry is going to take place into whether there were any failings, missed opportunities. I'm really glad that is going to take place." The 37-year-old, the daughter of Kenneth Battersby, told the BBC that she thought it "must be devastating for them (police and social services) to work in that profession, to have to deal with tragedies like this".
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Mr Battersby had suffered another heart attack a few months before his death, she also told the broadcaster. She said of her father: "I know how proud he was of every single one of us. He absolutely doted on (Bronson). I think he loved doing what he was doing for him.
"Seeing him with him, it was really, really heart-warming. It made me proud of my dad for what he was doing for his little boy. He tried his best for that little boy until his last breath," she said.
Bronson tragically starved to death at the home in Skegness (Facebook)
The two-year-old was known to social services (Facebook)Lincolnshire County Council has confirmed Bronson had been known to children's services and would typically be seen at least once a month by social workers. The authority has said a social worker communicated with Mr Battersby on December 27 and arranged to visit on January 2, but there was no response when they arrived at the door.
The social worker "made inquiries at other addresses where the child could be" and contacted the police. A second unannounced visit on January 4 also went unanswered, and Lincolnshire Police were contacted again. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating Lincolnshire Police's actions before Mr Battersby and his son were found.
Social workers were let into the rented property by landlady Maria Clifton-Plaice and discovered Bronson at his father's feet. Maria said together, she and two social workers walked into the "horrible tragedy" as they entered the home before the police.
She explained that Kenneth had become a family friend after being a tenant for around 10 years. Maria 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.”
Neighbour Amanda Tovey, 43, said she tried to alert the NSPCC around two weeks before Bronson's death. She explained: "I was concerned and shortly before Christmas contacted the NSPCC because I could hear the boy crying all night." NSPCC said it received a report and stated that a referral was made to "the appropriate authorities". Lincolnshire County Council is now conducting "a review of the case".
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