Bronson Battersby’s neighbour remembers final second she noticed toddler alive

Bronson Battersby’s neighbour recalled seeing the toddler “waving” out the window to her simply days earlier than he was discovered useless alongside his father.

Cheree Ross, who might have been the final particular person to see two-year-old Bronson alive, mentioned the boy had a “mouthful of pink wafer” as he waved on Boxing Day when she checked in on them.

The toddler was discovered useless two weeks later subsequent to the physique of his 60-year-old father, Kenneth Battersby, who had suffered a deadly coronary heart assault on the flat they shared in Skegness.

It is believed that Mr Battersby died days after Boxing Day, leaving Bronson with no entry to meals or water at their house on Prince Alfred Avenue.

“It got to Boxing Day and we thought, hold on – where’s Kenny,” she informed Sky News, along with her household usually seeing the pair collectively on the road.

Mr Battersby was “sorting bits in the kitchen” whereas they mentioned whats up to Bronson for what would change into the ultimate time.

Ms Ross mentioned she stood outdoors the home for 2 hours when paramedics had been referred to as to the home on 9 January, after a social employee was led into the property by the owner.

“It was devastating. I saw paramedics turn up with the police… never did I think that it was Bronson,” she mentioned, including she was “made aware” of Mr Battersby.

“Like an idiot, I stood here for two hours with a pair of gloves that Bronson liked to wear, still covered in chocolate, just waiting for them to bring him out the house.”

Ms Ross mentioned the worst was confirmed to her when the kid’s mom, Sarah Piesse, who didn’t reside with the pair, “shouted” Bronson was useless.

“I fell to the ground in tears, it shouldn’t have happened to the boy,” she mentioned.

“The whole street is in shock, and we’re all wondering why we didn’t do more.”

Investigation into police response

The police watchdog will examine whether or not there have been any “missed opportunities” by officers previous to their deaths.

Lincolnshire Police was contacted on two separate events by a Lincolnshire county council social employee who had no reply once they knocked on Mr Battersby’s door.

Bronson was recognized to youngsters’s companies and would usually be seen a minimum of as soon as a month by social staff.

A spokesman for the county council confirmed a social employee communicated with Mr Battersby on 27 December and organized a go to for two January, however there was no response on the door.

The social employee “made inquiries at other addresses where the child could be” and contacted the police, earlier than a second unannounced go to on 4 January.

Read extra:
A timeline of events leading up to toddler’s death
Two-year-old boy who starved to death was too small to reach fridge, says mum

The days because the deaths have been “horrific”, Ms Ross mentioned, however she hoped to push for a legislation – Bronson’s Law – to introduce a weekly level of name for kids beneath faculty age residing with an aged or weak mum or dad.

“I feel as though… you can save lives and we can prevent another tragedy,” she mentioned.

“I would ask Keir Starmer [Labour Party leader] to please consider this.”

‘A ravishing relationship’

Ms Ross described the daddy and son as “amazing” and mentioned “you’d never see a dad love a son so much and vice-versa”.

“They were always together, completely inseparable and it was a laugh a minute with the two of them,” she mentioned.

“I remember Bronson standing on the washing machine door and breaking it, and the commotion of Kenny trying to get it out – he ended up breaking his foot, he was hobbling about for weeks.”

“My children haven’t had an active father in their life and neither did I, so to see a dad just dote on his child, it was amazing,” she added.

“For an older gentleman as well, they loved each other. It was a beautiful relationship.”

A minute’s silence will likely be held for the pair forward of their beloved Torquay United’s match with Dover Athletic on Saturday.