HEARTLESS THEFT
Burglars broke into tragic toddler Bronson Battersby’s home and stole dead dad’s wallet just hours after bodies found
The thieves also stole dad Kenneth's important medication
CRUEL burglars broke into the home of Bronson Battersby and his dad just a day after their bodies were found, cops have revealed.
Bronson, 2, starved to death next to his dad’s body after Lincolnshire social services "missed chances to save him", his family said.
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Their bodies were only found in the Skegness basement on January 9, two weeks after Kenneth died of a heart attack.
Burglars got into the home through a back window and stole a wallet and medication belonging to dad Kenneth, .
Lincolnshire Police said they are investigating a report of a burglary at Prince Alfred Avenue on Friday, 12 January.
The building's landlady, Maria Clifton-Plaice, said the thieves struck on January 10.
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She said: "It was just a day after Kenny and Bronson had been found dead in the living room. It makes you despair really, how low can people stoop?"
Clifton-Plaice was one of the first to discover the tragic scene of the father and son dead after being asked to unlock the front door by social workers.
"The police didn't go in first, it was me with two female social workers, and I found Kenny's body, not knowing that his son was lying dead too behind him," she previously told .
"It was a horrible tragedy and we are devastated. I cannot tell you how horrible it was. I never expected to find Kenny and Bronson like that. I don’t think I will ever get over it.”
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Clifton-Plaice she was "just heartbroken", describing finding the bodies as one of the "worst [days] of my life".
She said she did not know Bronson well but added: "I know he'd come and started staying with Kenny recently and he was just probably the light of his dad's eye.
"He was, I think, Kenny's chance to be a good dad."
Mum Sarah Piesse, 43, told The Sun she was now haunted by the vision of her “gorgeous boy” searching desperately in the dark for food and water.
Sarah said about her boy: “A typical, cheeky, little two-year-old. He was always trying to get his favourite pink wafers.
“And then when we said no more, he’d smile and shout, ‘Yeah! More, more, more!’
“Kenny moved all the snacks higher up so he couldn’t get to them without asking.
“Now all I can think of in my head is him, starving, reaching up and trying to get them. I can’t bear it.
“He was about two inches off being able to reach the fridge to open it.
“His last moments were spent alone and he must have been so thirsty and hungry.
“He will have been crying. He will have been so confused.
“And Kenny was there on the floor. I can only pray he thought his dad was asleep.”
A Lincolnshire Police spokesperson said: "The incident took place sometime between the 10 January and the 12 January.
"The offenders are thought to have used a bedroom window to gain entry. Our investigations are ongoing.
"If you have information which could help us, call 101 and quote the number 24000024117.”
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Policing minister Chris Philp has in referring itself to the watchdog for investigation.
Lincolnshire County Council also pledged to conduct a 'rapid review' of the deaths.
Timeline of events leading to toddler's death
25 December - Sarah says the two-year-old and his father have a "big Christmas dinner together" with chicken as Bronson doesn't like Turkey.
26 December - Neighbour says they had last seen Bronson and Kenneth on their way into Skegness shops.
27 December - The same neighbour reportedly sent a text message to Kenneth and received a reply.
1 January - The neighbour sent another message to Kenneth wishing him a happy New Year but received no response.
2 January - A social worker visited the house as planned but received no answer. She contacted the police and checked other houses for Bronson.
4 January - The social worker went back into the home but was met with no response again and called the police again.
9 January - Landlord Maria Clifton-Plaice gave the social worker access to the property, where they discovered the bodies. They alerted police around 3.25pm.
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