Adkins, 32, necked whisky before taking her s*x partner, who she had met just one week earlier at a bus stop, upstairs leaving baby Shanelle on a sofa with her sister. The baby, who had suffered from reflux and vomiting since birth, was found lifeless the following morning wearing only a tiny tracksuit and no blanket or bed clothes.Paramedics were called to property in Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, who found the baby unresponsive and performed CPR. She was rushed to Royal Stoke University Hospital but despite the efforts of doctors she was pronounced dead at 8.05am.
Today, an inquest heard how Adkins who has six children with four different men showed “no emotion” as paramedics battled to save the child’s life. It also emerged social workers had visited her several times in the weeks leading up to the tot’s death after receiving an anonymous tip-off by a concerned neighbour.
Sylvia Coleman, from Stoke-on-Trent City Council, visited the family after concerns were raised about Adkins allowing her sister with learning difficulties to care for the children.
Adkins was charged to court where she pleaded guilty to cruelty of a child at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court and was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
