Bronson Battersby: Policing minister says ‘questions need to be answered’ as force refers itself to watchdog over death of toddler who was ‘two inches too small’ to open fridge …
By Matthew Lodge[1] and Chris Matthews[2]
Published: 10:28, 18 January 2024 | Updated: 10:40, 18 January 2024
The policing minister has said 'questions need to be answered' over the case of Bronson Battersby after a force referred itself to the watchdog following his death.
Chris Philp said it was vital that investigations uncover what happened after the 'heartbreaking tragedy' which saw the two-year-old found dead[3] curled up at the knees of his father Kenneth, 60, in their Skegness home.
It is believed the toddler died of starvation and dehydration after his father had a heart attack around the New Year, but their bodies were only discovered on January 9 a week after a social worker first raised concerns about them.
Bronson's mother, Sarah Piesse, who last saw her son alive before Christmas, said her son was two inches too small to reach a fridge of leftovers that could have saved him and couldn't stop picturing her tragic son 'starving, reaching up and trying to get them'.
On Wednesday Lincolnshire Police, which received two calls from the social worker about the pair in the week before they were found, referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which will review its actions.
Two-year-old Bronson Battersby starved to death next to his dead father after he suffered a heart attack, his devastated family has revealed
Bronson's mother Sarah Piesse (pictured), 43, said she couldn't stop picturing her tragic son 'starving, reaching up and trying to get' his snacks
Lincolnshire County Council also pledged to conduct a 'rapid review' of the incident, which has shaken Britain.
Bronson Battersby's tragic final days
- Before Christmas - Bronson's mother Sarah Piesse sees him alive for the last time and argues with the boy's father Kenneth Battersby
- Boxing Day - A neighbour goes to see Kenneth and Bronson at their home in Skegness
- December 27 - Sixty-year-old Kenneth messages the neighbour to thank her for checking in on them. He also receives a text from a social worker arranging a visit on January 2
- December 29 - The earliest date Kenneth could have died based on the results of a post-mortem
- January 2 - The social worker arrives at the house but gets no answer when knocking on the door. She contacts the police
- January 4 - The social worker returns to Kenneth's Skegness home and again receives no answer, She once again contacts the police
- January 9 - The social worker, using a key from Kenneth's landlord, gets into his home.
She finds the bodies of Bronson and his father
- January 16 - Family get the results of a post-mortem showing Kenneth died of a heart attack and Bronson from dehydration and starvation
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Thursday morning, Mr Philp said: 'We do want answers as to what happened, questions need to be answered.'
'I know there's an investigation going into the social services element of this and there is also an investigation being conducted by the IOPC into the policing side of this.
I think all of us want answers and those investigations will get to the bottom of this really heartbreaking tragedy.
He told Times Radio he was 'concerned about this whole episode'.
'As a father myself I can't think of anything worse than a little boy, just a couple of years, suffering in that way,' he said.
'I'm concerned about this whole episode. I think it does need, and think it is being, investigated to understand exactly what happened.
'He was on the social services' radar, it wasn't as if this was completely new to the authorities, the family was known to social services and obviously was on their list of people to check up on to start with.
'So I am concerned about it and I think it should be investigated thoroughly.'
Lincolnshire Police confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that it has referred itself to the watchdog following the tragedy.
A spokesperson for the force said: 'The exact actions of organisations involved will be analysed in a forthcoming review and at this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further.
'As part of standard procedures we have referred this to the IOPC as a result of a death or serious injury following police involvement.'
Meanwhile Lincolnshire County Council confirmed it was carrying out a 'rapid review' of the case.
Heather Sandy, executive director for children's services, said: 'This was a tragic incident, and we are supporting the family at this difficult time. We are currently carrying out a review of the case alongside partner agencies to better understand the circumstances, and we await the results of the coroner's investigations as well.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved.'
Speaking on BBC[4] Radio 4's World at One on Wednesday, Ms Sandy said it was a 'devastating' and 'tragic' case.
'Kenneth has passed away at his home,' she said.
'He was at home on his own with Bronson and that meant that there was nobody left to give Bronson care, and sadly as a result of that, Bronson has also passed away.'
On Facebook, Bronson's sister Melaniie Battersby wrote: 'Beautiful little boy deserved so much better than this life.
We love you Bronson, forever a part of us, and forever my baby brother'
Sarah last saw Bronson after getting into an argument with Kenneth before Christmas
Yesterday after it was revealed Bronson was unable to reach his snacks after his father's death as they had just been removed from a low cupboard in a bid to stop him helping himself to them.
His mother Sarah told The Sun[5]: 'Kenny moved all the snacks higher up so he couldn't get to them without asking.
'Now all I can think of in my head is him, starving, reaching up and trying to get them. I can't bear it.
'He was about two inches off being able to reach the fridge to open it.
'And Kenny was there on the floor. I can only pray he thought his dad was asleep.'
The toddler was found in his pyjamas next to father Kenneth, alongside their emaciated pet dog boxer Skylar who survived, after days of attempts to contact them by concerned social services.
The tragic discovery came a week after a social worker first raised an alarm about the pair to police after being unable to contact Kenneth at an arranged meeting on January 2.
A neighbour had seen Kenneth and Bronson on Boxing Day, days after Sarah last saw her son alive before Christmas[6].
But 60-year-old Kenneth is thought to have succumbed to a heart attack before New Year with his son tragically passing away days later due to starvation and dehydration.
A pram and scooter could be seen in the garden outside the house where Bronson and Kenneth were found
Heartbroken friends and neighbours have left floral tributes to the pair outside the Skegness home
In one written tribute friends said they would miss Bronson's 'cheeky little smile' and Kenneth's 'footy banter'
Heartbroken family and friends have paid tribute to the pair who were only found when the social worker, who had contacted police twice in the space of a week with concerns about them, used the key of Kenneth's landlord to gain entry.
They had visited Kenneth's home in Skegness, Lincolnshire on January 2, for a routine visit but received no reply, and after failing to find them through friends contacted the police.
They visited again on January 4 but again there was no response from them.
The social worker contacted the police again that day.
They would contact police a third and final time after discovering the bodies of the pair on January 9.
References
- ^ Matthew Lodge (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Chris Matthews (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ found dead (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ BBC (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ The Sun (www.thesun.co.uk)
- ^ Christmas (www.dailymail.co.uk)