Horrified policeman describes Birmingham mum and dad's squalid home as the 'worst he had ever seen'
A filthy mum and dad who forced their young children to live in disgusting squalor with dirty nappies and dog and cat faeces littering the floor have been spared jail.
The parents of the children - a baby boy only a few months old at the time and a daughter aged just three - admitted two charges of cruelty to a person under 16 after a horrified police officer described their home as the "worst he had ever seen".
Their home had a "repugnant" smell of animal excrement, cigarettes and dirty nappies all over the floor and more pet than human food in the cupboards,Birmingham Crown Court heard.
Patrick Sullivan, prosecuting, said health visitors and social workers had noticed the Birmingham property declining into a "filthy" state.
He added: "Before she [the social worker] got to the doorstep it was apparent that there were dirty nappies outside in the garden as well as empty take-away cartons.
"She noted that the whole house smelled repugnant and there was a smell of animal faeces and cigarettes.
"In the living room there were dirty nappies all over the floor, empty crisp packets and rubbish. There was cot in that room and [the baby] was in that cot.
"He was clutching an empty bottle and there were two other empty, stale bottles in his cot. His nappy was still on him but was very sodden and undone.
"The kitchen was filthy. There were two pans with three centimetres of grease within, mould on the slow cooker and animal faeces were noted on the floor.
"There was more pet food than human food, and very little of the latter."
Upstairs, furniture in the little girl's room was turned on its side and rotten milk bottles were discovered with a "thick layer of green mould".
Medication was also in reach of the children and the bath looked "unused" with no evidence of toothpaste, shampoo or towels.
Sentencing the pair, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to a 12-month community order, Judge James Burbidge QC said he believed they were "inadequate" parents rather than "uncaring" or "evil".
He added: "It is clear that you failed to recognise the needs of your children and failed to respond to them.
"Perhaps two children was a burden at that time in your life that you failed to cope with."
Sharon Bailey, defending the 27-year-old mother, said the children had been provided with toys and the little girl had a Dora the Explorer duvet cover in her room.
"Parents who neglect their children do not buy them toys or provide any bedding, much less age appropriate bedding," she added.
"This is a young woman who has had difficulty with the demands of running a house with young children and animals."
Regan Peggs, defending the 28-year-old father, said there had been no issues when he had been jointly looking after their daughter full time, but he was placed in a "difficult position" after getting a job at a local supermarket and being unable to help in the same way.
The children are now living with their father's sister.
Judge Burbidge QC made an order that both parents would be supervised while visiting their children and that both would complete 120 hours of unpaid work as part of their sentence.
He also ordered the mother to attend a women's centre for 30 days for counselling and advice.