2-year-old boy starved to death next to his dead father after he suffered a heart attack
A 'rapid review' has today been launched by authority officials after a two-year-old boy was found dead alongside his father, also deceased, on 9 January.
Bronson Battersby's lifeless body was discovered by Lincolnshire police, alongside that of his 60-year-old dad, Kenneth.
It is believed the tot tragically starved after his father suffered a heart attack, with authorities ruling out any suspicious circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Advert
Despite this, a review has today been launched, after Bronson's mother accused both Lincolnshire police and the children's services of missing numerous opportunities to save the little boy's life.
The review comes just hours after news broke that a social worker had visited Kenneth's rental home in Skegness on 2 January - a regular occurrence being that the pair were both considered vulnerable.
After Kenneth failed to answer the door, however, she became concerned and raised the issue with police.
Two days later, the children's worker was met with the same muted response upon knocking on Kenneth's door, prompting her to call the police once again.
According to reports, it was only after five days that the woman was able to receive a key from the landlord and check on the father and son herself.
It was then that she discovered their visibly dead bodies, as well as their pet boxer, Skylar, who had survived but was very weak and thin.
A report released later ruled that Kenneth had died from a heart attack no earlier than 29 December.
The loving father had previously suffered from a heart condition which had triggered jaundice.
The post-mortem also recorded that toddler Bronson had died of dehydration and starvation, and a friend of the family later told press that he was found 'curled up at Kenneth's legs'.
His mother, Sarah Piesse, 43, told press this week: "If social services had done their job Bronson would still be alive.
"But they didn’t do anything. They can’t let them get away with this. We have to be able to rely on social workers to keep our children safe."
Sarah went on: "They think Kenneth died no earlier than December 29. It means if the social worker had pushed to get in when she got no reply on January 2 then Bronson would still have been alive."
Heather Sandy - executive director of children's services at Lincolnshire County Council - described the pair's unfortunate passing as 'devastating'.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 today (Wed 17 Jan), she explained: "Kenneth has passed away at his home.
"He was at home on his own with Bronson and that meant that there was nobody left to give Bronson care, and sadly as a result of that, Bronson has also passed away."
Ms Gray continued: "What's really important is that we understand fully what has happened, so the rapid review will allow all of those agencies to come together and to look at what has happened."
"This is absolutely devastating for us and very much more devastating for the family," she concluded her statement. "And our thoughts are with them."
Tyla has contacted Lincolnshire Police and the Children's Commissioner for a further statement.
Rhianna Benson