A "cruel" mum failed to get medical help for her seven-week-old baby who was "not well" days before he died, a court heard.
Kayleigh Clarke and her partner Michael Higginson did not call for help when little Ronnie got sick at their home in Stoke-on-Trent.
When the alarm was raised it was too late as paramedics found Ronnie in cardiac arrest at the property on Derwent Street, in Cobridge, at 8.55pm on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.
He died in hospital less than 30 minutes later, reports Stoke-on-Trent Live.
Both defendants denied a charge of child cruelty by neglect, but they were convicted by a jury after a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court last October.
Now Clarke has been jailed for 27 months and Higginson has been sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years.
The sentence includes a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
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BPM MEDIA)The court heard that Ronnie had been unwell from around Friday, November 22, 2019. He had been sniffling, off his food, and struggling to breathe and his parents had been advised to seek medical attention.
However, they only called for medical help on November 26, 2019, when the baby passed away.
The court has accepted that the defendants did not cause Ronnie's death but their failure to take any immediate action likely caused him unnecessary suffering or injury to his health.
Prosecutor Debbie Gould said: "Ronnie was described by a variety of witnesses as quite obviously unwell. He was struggling to breathe, sniffling, and not breathing properly. One witness described him inflating and deflating like a balloon. He was blue and struggling to breathe.
"Both defendants were told that medical intervention was required. Clarke indicated that she would sort it out but took no steps to do so. Higginson left it to her despite knowing her unreliability and her drug habit.
"Each parent is responsible for the care of a child. Both these parents were struggling with controlled drugs. They put their needs over the needs of their child. There was a deliberate disregard for his welfare."
Clarke, aged 33, of St Anthony's Road, Preston, has no previous convictions.
Anis Ali, mitigating for Clarke, said: "She will carry the burden of guilt and shame associated with the death of young Ronnie. One can hardly imagine, or begin to think of, any greater punishment than she has lost her young child.
"She has made efforts and inroads since these events. She has disassociated herself from Higginson. An immediate prison term would punish her but would do little, if anything, to address the residual feature of her character and make-up that led to these failures.
"She has made stringent efforts. She is on the right path. An immediate sentence would serve to undo all that. She is drug free. I ask that she is given one final opportunity."
Lyndon Harris, mitigating for 53-year-old Higginson, of High Street, Wood Lane, said: "He made some efforts to bring about some medical attention for Ronnie. He acknowledges that these were very limited.
"This is a very sad case. He accepts prioritising his drug addiction at the time over the needs of his family. It is something he is ashamed of and remorseful about.
"He is not the man he was in 2019. He is 12 stone 11. In November 2019 he was seven-and-a-half stone."
Judge Sally Hancox described the case as "tragic" as she said: "Ronnie was not well. It must have been clear to each of his parents. Friends and family said he was not well.
"They made suggestions that he should go to the doctors or a walk-in centre. Friends and family were prepared to assist. At no stage during the last week of his life was he taken to see a doctor or medical professional."
Following the conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Hannan, from Staffordshire Police, said: "This was a truly tragic case in which a seven-week-old baby boy died in the care of two people who should have been there to protect him.
"Our investigation found that medical attention did not appear to have been sought for Ronnie when he was unwell. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by Ronnie's death."
