18 March 2023 , 17:33
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A heartbroken dad is calling for a change in law after his baby son was left by his mother and died at home.
Ethan Davis was just 12 months old when he was found dead in his cot after temperatures soared to over 27C.
But detectives couldn't prove that he died as a result of his abandonment.
His mum Stacey Davis left the youngster at their home in Melksham, Wiltshire, for more than two hours as she swanned around, getting her car washed and taking another child to the park.
After Ethan's death the 35-year-old listed the tot's possessions and clothes for sale on Facebook including a "Little Man's Savings" money box sold for just £5.
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She also flogged a bundle of baby clothes aged 3-6 months, tiny baby clothing and two all-in-one sleep suits.
Davis left Ethan at home alone for several hours (Daniel Webb / SWNS)
The tiny tot died was found dead (Family photo / SWNS)Davis pleaded guilty to an offence of child cruelty and was jailed for two years at Salisbury Crown Court in December.
Now Ethan's family want it to be made illegal for any child under the age of five to be left unsupervised.
His dad Luke Turvey said that had this law been in place at the time back in 2018, his son may still be alive today.
"Getting this law in place is really important to me because I don’t want what happened to Ethan to happen to any other child," he added.
The change of law would allow police to act sooner - before harm comes to a child.
In Ethan's case, a Serious Case Review revealed that opportunities were missed by the authorities.
Davis pleaded guilty to child cruelty (Wiltshire Police / SWNS)
Mr Turvey is calling for a change in law (Daniel Jae Webb / SWNS)Davis had previously admitted leaving Ethan home alone on at least one previous occasion.
Had it been illegal to leave a child age under five at home alone, she could have been prosecuted earlier and social services may have acted to prevent future abandonment.
In a Freedom of Information request, Wiltshire Police confirmed a steep rise in reports of children being left unsupervised.
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In 2022, officers probed 39 reports of some 55 children being left alone - up from just 11 reports in 2021.
A heartbreaking seven of the 2022 reports relate to children under the age of five.
Despite the large number of reports last year, nobody was charged with a child cruelty offence.
However, a 38-year-old man was issued with an adult caution.
The mum was jailed for two years at Salisbury Crown Court in December (Daniel Jae Webb / SWNS)The force confirmed that there are 17 live investigations into reports of children being left unsupervised - involving 24 potential victims.
NSPCC guidance says that a child aged under three "should never be left alone – even for 15 minutes while you pop down the road".
However, this is now law - just advice.
It adds: "This applies not just to leaving them home alone but also in your car while you run into the shops."
The new legislation, nicknamed Ethan's Law, would make it a crime in England and Wales to "leave a child aged under five alone without supervision, where the person responsible for the child's health and safety is unable to reasonably react to any circumstances that may expose said child to the risk of injury or death."
Mr Turvey added: "I feel like if it had been in place the first time social services were informed Ethan was being left at home alone, it would have been taken more seriously and actually investigated. "I would even go as far as saying he might still be alive today."
A petition has been launched in favour of the new law.