by The NSPCC was contacted out of concern for Bronson Battersby’s welfare in the days leading up to the two-year-old’s tragic death, prompting the children’s charity to make a referral to social services.
Bronson’s father Kenneth Battersby, 60, is believed to have suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after the pair were last seen alive at their home in Skegness, Lincolnshire, on Boxing Day, leaving the toddler alone in the dark without food or water for days. .
Bronson was found dead next to his father’s body two weeks later, with preliminary tests finding that the boy, who was in the care of child services, had died of dehydration and starvation.
Neighbor Amanda Tovey, 43, told the Daily Mirror she contacted the NSPCC after hearing the baby “crying all night” in the weeks before his death.
She said: “It was mainly at night that he started testing the poor boy. I could hear it from the apartment above, but I never felt able to face it. I don’t have any children myself so I can’t tell someone else how to parent a child. I was worried and shortly before Christmas I contacted the NSPCC because I could hear the boy crying all night.”
An NSPCC spokesman said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Bronson Battersby and our thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved this little boy.
“The NSPCC Helpline was contacted by an adult concerned about Bronson’s wellbeing. We then spoke to this person before he was referred to the appropriate authorities.
“We stand ready to fully support any review of this extremely upsetting case.”
They also said that the extent of the children’s charity’s powers is to make referrals to the appropriate authorities, which they do in cases that are considered more serious.
Lincolnshire Police said on Wednesday it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Policing (IOPC) over the incident. The watchdog group confirmed on Thursday that it is launching an independent investigation “to assess the police response” and “whether there were any missed opportunities” by officers before the deaths.
The force added that the exact actions of all the organizations involved will be analyzed in an upcoming review, and Lincoln County Council said it has launched a “rapid review” of the situation.
The council said The Independent that social services spoke to Kenneth Battersby on 27 December to arrange a visit to the house on 2 January. After receiving no response that day, the council said the social worker contacted the police and made an unannounced visit two days later, after which they contacted the police again.
It was another five days, however, before the bodies of the father and son were discovered on January 9, after a social worker gained access from the landlord.
Bronson’s half-sister Melanie Battersby, 37, told the BBC that she did not blame social services or the police for her half-brother’s death but believed they “did what they could within the powers they had “.
Ms Battersby – who shares a father with Bronson – said there could have been a “different outcome for my baby brother” if social services had been made aware of Mr Battersby’s health issues after they were first able to contact him .
She said: “I don’t blame them at all. I believe that social services and the police did what they could within the powers they had and the information they were given.
“I’m glad there’s an inquiry going on to see if there was any failure, missed opportunities. I’m really excited that that’s going to happen.”
Miss Battersby, who lives in Sheffield, thought it must be “devastating for them to work in that profession, dealing with tragedies like this”.
Paying tribute to the “lovely, sweet-natured boy”, Miss Battersby said she last saw Bronson on a family trip to Butlin’s.
She said: “Every time I saw him he was happy, he was smiling, he learned to walk, he was learning to talk. We are devastated as a whole family.”
Speaking of her father, she said: “I know how proud he was of all of us. He completely doted on [Bronson]. I think he loved what he was doing for him. If he saw him, he was really, heart-warming. It made me proud of my father for what he was doing for his little boy. He did his best for that boy until his last breath.”
Miss Battersby added that she has found some comfort in thinking that the two were together in their final hours.
“I was told they both looked very peaceful,” she said. “That’s the only consolation I can take. That my little brother went up to my father. He didn’t look in pain. Neither did. And they were together.”
The council confirmed the social worker who tried to visit Bronson and his father has not been suspended but took time off after his “traumatic experience”.
Heather Sandy, executive director of children’s services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “This was a tragic incident, and we are supporting the family at this difficult time.
“We are currently reviewing the case with partner agencies to better understand the circumstances, and we are also awaiting the results of the coroner’s investigations.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved.”
The Independent He has contacted Lincolnshire County Council for further comment.
