Drunken father 'forgets' his baby

A drunken father who left his six-month old daughter in shop has been put on probation.

Shaun Marshall of Westerhope, Newcastle "forgot" his baby, leaving her in her buggy when he was three times over the limit.

The 27 year old who had drunk "a skinful" the previous night, drove off with his two other children.

Mr Marshall was put on probation for nine months after he admitted being drunk in charge of the children on the 17 February.

Mr Marshall also received a 2 year driving ban from Newcastle Magistrates Court. for drink driving.

There was CCTV footage showing Mr Marshall leaving the Candy Man Sweet Shop with his two toddlers but leaving the baby by the door, before driving off in his Mercedes Benz.

When Mr Marshall returned 10 minutes later, police were waiting after receiving a call from the shop to say that a man had abandoned a baby. He was breathalysed and arrested.

Close to death

A blood alcohol test showed Mr Marshall had 240mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, when the legal limit is 80mg.

Mr Brennan said: "He told police he was tired and confused. He accepts he was over the limit and accepts the stupidity of driving the vehicle with his young children in the car." He has since stopped drinking and is attending Alcoholics Anonymous.

The Chairman of the bench said: "If you were three times over the limit when you gave that blood sample then at some stage during the night you must have been close to death. To be four times over the limit is to be heading towards the breakdown of your bodily functions”

Tuesday 13th May 2008

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