Boozing mum left baby girl in upturned pram in park for '˜up to seven-and-a-half hours'

Julie Gill had been out the night before drinking with a friend and her baby, who was just under 12-months-old, could have been left alone in Watson Road park all night, a court has heard.

The tiny child was discovered in the buggy by a man out walking his dog at 7am.

He immediately called an ambulance and the police.

Gill, 43, of Lindale Gardens, South Shore, pleaded guilty to assaulting, ill-treating or neglecting a child,

She was bailed to appear for sentence at Preston Crown Court by Blackpool magistrates. S

he must not have any unsupervised contact with the baby unless supervised by social services.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Gill took her baby when she went out drinking at night with a friend on July 14. They visited various establishments and Gill had the baby when she separated from her friend just after midnight.

More than seven hours later at 7.30am a man was walking his dog in Watson Road Park, Blackpool, when he came upon an upturned buggy with Gill’s baby inside.

Inquiries revealed that at 4am a neighbour had heard Gill shouting outside her address and let her in.

The prosecutor said: “The baby appears to have been abandoned for up to seven-and-a-half hours.”

Steven Townley, defending, said when interviewed his client had admitted the offence and pleaded guilty immediately.

Mr Townley said: “That night she had consumed so much alcohol she was incapable of caring for a child. She is full of regret and remorse.”

Gill had been going through a bad phase in her life and her partner had recently left her.

She had been on medication but it had been the wrong medication and the day after the offence she had gone to her doctor and been put on the right medication.

The consequences of the offence had been devastating for Gill.

Social Services had become involved.

The baby had been taken off her and was living with the father.