Children 'home alone' when fire started in Tyseley house, court told

Jul 14 2009 by Andy Richards, Birmingham Mail

A FIRE started in a locked Birmingham home where three children had been left alone by their parents, a court heard.

The children were treated in hospital for smoke inhalation, Samantha Forsythe, prosecuting, told the city’s crown court.

The children’s father, aged 37, and mother, 23, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have pleaded not guilty to three charges of child cruelty.

Miss Forsythe said the three children had been left alone inside the house, in Tyseley, when both parents went out in the morning.

The fire had started after a towel was left on a fireguard in front of a lit gas fire, she said. Fire services were called at 9am and found the children outside with their mother.

(Proceeding)