A YOUNG mum who left her children alone in a fly infested home smelling of faeces and urine in Ayr has been given community service. 

The 32-year-old, who we have not named to protect the identity of her children, appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court last week on charges of wilful neglect or exposing them to unnecessary suffering or injury to health. 

She admitted failing to properly clean or maintain hygiene in the property, which was found to be unsanitary and littered with clothing, refuse and dirty crockery.  

The home was full of dog and cat urine and faeces and infestation of insects on July 29, 2020.

The Advertiser has redacted details to avoid identifying any of the young children found alone in the house. The youngest was just two years old at the time and eldest 13.

When she appeared in court last week [Tuesday, October 15], the Procurator Fiscal depute said: “At 7pm on the date libelled, police officers attended after an anonymous report of the accused leaving five children.

“Officers attended and found three young males [on a trampoline] in the house when police arrived at the address. 

“There was no reply to knocking and shortly after a female arrived who identified herself as the grandmother.  

“She was then able get a child to open the door to the address, which had a strong smell of urine. In the hallway and living room there was rubbish and dog faeces. There was a dog barking constantly.

"Officers were taken to a bedroom and was advised it was the children's room.

"They struggled to open the door as it was full of rubbish with faeces on the floor and bed and with clothes strewn on the floor, a fly infestation and a smell of urine and faeces.

"The door to the accused room was open and again there was a strong smell of urine and faeces and flies. The grandmother advised the accused had arrived at her address then went to her boyfriend's house. 

"Police contacted social workers, who attended the address at 10.30pm.

"On closer inspection, the cot was dirty, there were dirty duvets and no clean work surfaces."

Her defence solicitor confirmed to the court the children were under social work supervision.

She added her client had no other matters before the court since.

Sheriff David Nicolson said: "In light of social work suggestions I propose to impose a community payback order. I intend to impose, due to the nature of the offence, an order lasting 12 months under supervision of the local authority. 

"There will be an unpaid work requirement of 70 hours to be carried out in 12 months.

"If you fail to comply you can be brought back before the court."