Wolverhampton father admits heroin overdose manslaughter of boy
The father of a one-year-old Wolverhampton boy who died of a heroin overdose today admitted his manslaughter.
Daniel Jones' parents called paramedics to their home in Penn after his mother Emma Bradburn noticed he had stopped breathing and felt cold.
But they were unable to revive the boy and he was taken to hospital, where he was certified dead. Tests showed there was enough heroin in Daniel's body to kill an adult.
Hair samples from Daniel, aged 23 months, showed he had suffered 'chronic' exposure to cannabis and opiates and 'occasional' exposure to amphetamines and cocaine.
A cannabis farm was also discovered at the house, in Windsor Avenue, and the boy's parents were initially arrested on suspicion of producing the drug.
But they were re-arrested on December 12 after tests had revealed that their child had died from an overdose of heroin. His father Simon Jones, aged 30, today pleaded guilty to Daniel's manslaughter, at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Bradburn, 34, had previously admitted causing or allowing the death of their child.
Prosecutor Neil Moore told the court today that her plea of not guilty to the manslaughter of the boy was acceptable.
Detective Inspector John Smith from the Wolverhampton Public Protection Unit, said after today's hearing: "This is a tragic case where a young life has so needlessly been lost because of the carelessness of those who should have been there to ensure his safety.
"Officers who initially visited the scene reported a clean and well maintained house that looked like any normal family home – but then upstairs we found a very different story.
"The main bedroom was untidy and strewn with drug paraphernalia. During his short life, Daniel became accustomed to living amongst these items and, tragically, consumed a quantity of heroin that ultimately led to his death. We don't know how he came to ingest the drug but he should never have been exposed to it."
The little boy was known to the city council and had been receiving multi-agency support. Wolverhampton Council and the city's Safeguarding Children's Board has ordered a serious case review which is expected to report later this year.
An inquest was today opened and adjourned.
Daniel's parents were remanded in custody for reports and are set to be sentenced at Nottingham or Wolverhampton Crown Court on July 3.
A tragic life – See tonight's Express & Star
