A five-year-old boy demonstrated remarkable presence of mind by alerting emergency services when his mother fell unconscious in their vehicle after consuming alcohol. The incident occurred in the Erdington area of Birmingham, highlighting serious concerns about child welfare and responsible parenting.
Emergency Response to Distressed Child's Call
West Midlands Police received the concerning call from the young child at approximately 4pm on October 7th last year. Officers promptly attended the location where they discovered the vehicle with the 36-year-old woman asleep inside. Prosecuting lawyer Owen Beale described how the child remained in the car with his unconscious mother, creating a potentially dangerous situation.
Challenging Wake-Up and Roadside Testing
Police officers encountered significant difficulty rousing the woman from her slumber. Once awakened, she submitted to a roadside breath test which recorded 44 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. This reading substantially exceeded the legal driving limit of 35 micrograms, indicating clear impairment.
Court Proceedings and Legal Consequences
The mother was arrested and transported to Perry Barr police station, where she declined to provide a further specimen for analysis. At Birmingham Magistrates' Court, she pleaded guilty to two serious offences: being drunk in charge of a child under seven years old, and failing to provide a specimen as a driver.
Defence solicitor Alexandra Youster presented mitigation, stating her client had reached 'rock bottom' and expressed overwhelming remorse for her actions. The court heard that social services have since become involved with the family to ensure appropriate support and safeguarding measures are in place.
Judicial Sentencing and Requirements
District Judge Michelle Smith, presiding over the case on February 5th, emphasised the gravity of the situation due to the very young child's involvement. The judge imposed an 18-month community order with multiple requirements designed to address the underlying issues:
- 30 days of rehabilitation activity
- Six-month alcohol treatment programme
- 12 sessions of mental health treatment
Additional penalties included a two-year driving disqualification and a £114 victim surcharge. The court chose not to identify the woman publicly to protect her son's anonymity, as he remains subject to reporting restrictions.
Broader Implications for Community Safety
This case serves as a stark reminder about the dangers of alcohol consumption when responsible for young children's care. The prosecution noted the woman had consumed a bottle of wine with a neighbour earlier that day, though she had no previous criminal convictions. Fortunately, no physical harm came to the child during this alarming incident, but the psychological impact and potential risks remain concerning for child welfare professionals.
