Girl, 2, ‘left with agonising foot cuts after wearing Next jelly sandals for just half-an-hour’
Esmé Connor's mum says her daughter suffered 'horrific' cuts after wearing the £8 shoes around her house on Monday
A TWO-YEAR-OLD girl was allegedly left with "horrific" cuts and a bloodied foot after wearing a pair of Next jelly sandals for just half-an-hour.
Little Esmé Connor's mum says her daughter suffered deep incisions to her right ankle after wearing the brand new pink children's size five shoes around her house on Monday morning.
Shocked mum Lisa shared shocking photos of Esmé's injuries on social media to warn other parents about the £8 sandals, which her daughter received as a birthday present.
The furious parent has now called on Next to recall the shoes, to prevent other kids suffering similar injuries.
Mum-of-two Lisa, who also has daughter Skyla, five, with fiancé Niall Cartmell, 25, said: "Esmé was in absolute agony. I couldn't believe it because she had only been wearing them for half an hour.
"It's not like she was running around in them for hours. She was just plodding around the house and then came running in in tears.
"There was blood all round her ankle and on the soles of her foot. Of course there will be new shoes that rub, but this is ridiculous."
The beauty business owner, from Blackpool, Lancs, says they had family and friends over on Friday to give birthday presents to little Esmé.
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Her daughter tried the shoes on as soon as she was given them, but had them taken off straight away after complaining they were uncomfortable.
Lisa said: "Over the weekend she had a bouncy castle so she wasn't really wearing her shoes much and Niall put them on her again on Monday morning.
"Niall didn't know she had complained about them on Friday. She can't really talk much so wasn't able to say they had hurt her.
"On Monday she was moaning and whingeing and I initially put it down to being tired. She was playing in the garden while I did some work and that's when she came in crying.
"There was so much blood and she wouldn't stop crying. Her dad had to spend an hour calming her down. It spoiled her birthday weekend really."
Lisa contacted Next's customer services department, who agreed to collect and examine the shoes next week.
But the furious mum thinks the shoes, which cost between £7 and £8 depending on size and are described as "fun jelly sandals for short term wear only" on the retailer's website, should be taken off sale.
The 26-year-old said: "I think they should be taken off sale before any more children get hurt. She's not been able to put any shoes on since.
"Niall was able to wash her feet and put on a plaster but they're still incredibly sore. It's only her right foot that is affected strangely.
"The sandals are made from a jelly material so I don't know if that's what's caused the problem. The worst cut is just under her ankle bone.
"I'm really disappointed because I do all my clothes shopping at Next, but I don't think they should be selling these at all.
"Other parents saw my pictures and messaged me to say they had similar problems. I hope it doesn't happen to anyone else."
A spokesperson for Next said: "We are terribly sorry for the distress caused and we are taking this matter very seriously.
"We've asked for this pair of shoes to be returned so we can carry out a detailed inspection of this shoe, since this is the first complaint of this nature that we've received."
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