Last updated 11:55, Saturday, 03 May 2008

A YOUNG couple who were found guilty of neglecting their child were sentenced yesterday.

The 19-year-old man and his partner, aged 21, from Barrow, each received a community order for failing to notice that their three-year-old daughter had wandered off from the family home.

A court heard that the couple, who cannot be named, slept in their beds while the toddler walked more than 400 metres down the street, across a main road and into a neighbour’s house, accompanied by the family’s large pet Rottweiler.

They were found guilty after a trial at Furness Magistrates’ Court on April 10.

Mr Andrew Dodd, prosecuting, said: “The bare facts are that the witness in this case was concerned about the girl when at 10.57am on May 31 last year, she was hoovering upstairs in her house when she came down to find the girl and the dog.

“It appears that there was an unsecured window in the family’s house and the police found a chair butted up against the window sill. Police believe the girl got out that way.

“As for the dog, the dog is devoted to the child and goes everywhere with it.”

The couple were only woken from their sleep when police knocked on their door at around 11am in possession of the girl.

According to police at the original trial, the girl had been out of the house for at least 30 minutes before she was recovered by police.

The incident in May was the second time the child had escaped from the family home.

Ms Karen Templeton, defending, said: “The facts are undisputed.

“Since the incident happened almost a year ago there has been no re-offending.

“The family are living in a house more suitable and both parents have been working to resolve these issues.

“They now take responsibility for the incident.

“After the girl had gotten out the first time, the father had chains put on the doors and the mother had begun hiding the keys.

“As far as the second incident is concerned they had taken measures but perhaps in hindsight these measures weren’t adequate.

“I ask you to take this into account, it has been a year since the incident.”

The couple were ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work each and will be the subject of a 12-month supervision order.

They were also ordered to pay £75 costs each.