Newborn left so emaciated his bones were clearly visible after his mum refused to give him formula because she thought it was ‘poisonous’
The mother, who pleaded guilty to neglect, had referred to formula milk as "poisonous" after concerns were raised by health visitors about his weight, and they saw she had no sterilising equipment in the house
PARENTS of a newborn have been jailed after they left him three weeks from death after "starving" him because his mother thought formula was "poisonous".
The baby suffered so much weight loss that his bones could be seen, after Aleksandrs Vitte, 22, and Olga Karnopele, discharged their son from hospital against medical advice and did not supplement his feeds with formula.
The court heard the child lost 250g in one week as Karnopele pleaded guilty and Vitte was found guilty in his absence, after fleeing to his native Latvia.
Judge James Adkin said: "This case concerns serious cruelty to a newborn child.
"Records reveal he lost 250g in a week, his condition was evidenced by photographs. He was emaciated, in distress and he was quite literally starving.
"A police protection order was immediately sought by doctors.
"You had been told your breastfeeding had to be supplemented with formula. But you ignored that agreement, stubbornly believing that you knew best.
"You must have known and deliberately ignored the fact he was not thriving.
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"Had the consultant not intervened and sought an order, and had you continued in the manner you had, he would almost certainly have died.
"You ignored advice from professionals and you breached agreements with doctors and removed that child from hospital when he was very poorly indeed."
Plant nursery worker Karnopele was jailed for two years, while Vitte received 32 months.
Karnopele, who pleaded guilty to neglect, had referred to formula milk as "poisonous" after concerns were raised by health visitors about his weight.
Richard Archer, prosecuting, said: "He was within the normal range for birth weight but a little over a month later on December 30 he weighed just below his 4.98lb.
"It had been established he had lost more than 20 per cent of his birth weight.
"The bones around his chest were visible, he was described as being lethargic and looking jaundiced and it is clear the photographs tell their own tale, he had lost fat from his face, arms and thighs and appeared to be very hungry.
"The doctor's assessment was it was due to an inadequate intake of milk.
"He was admitted to hospital and given formula feeds and his weight gained rapidly.
"In January his weight had increased by half a kilo in a week and it was clear there was nothing medically wrong with him that stopped him gaining weight."
Karnopele cried in the dock as defending, James Heyworth, said: "There is a degree of human tragedy for whatever the reason for their conduct, 10 years from now they may go on to regret the fact that not only did they fail him, they will never know him and the little boy will never know them.
"They will have to go through life wondering why they did not do right by him."
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