A MOTHER who left her three daughters at home to go clubbing escaped a jail sentence.

The 40 year-old, from Leigh, walked away with a 12-month community order after admitting leaving the 12, six and four year-olds overnight without a babysitter.

Basildon Crown Court heard she went shopping in Stratford with her then boyfriend at midday on March 16, before the couple checked into a hotel and went on to enjoy a night out at Coronet nightclub in New Kent Road, south-east London.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a caution in 2009 for a similar incident.

After she admitted wilfully assaulting, neglecting, abandoning, exposing or ill-treating children in a way likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury at an earlier hearing, the three girls were taken in to foster care.
She currently sees them twice a week.

Judge Owen Davies said sending the mother to prison could jeopardize her chances of getting them back and cause them further distress.

He added: “You left those little girls who need you to put your own pleasure and desires before their safety, and left them at great risk.
 

“The presence of police officers coming to the house shining torches must have been frightening. This is behaviour which is very serious and it’s not the first time you have done this.”

As she was handed her sentence, the mother sobbed and shouted: “I’m so sorry, I’m very sorry. I will never do it again.”