A former police worker has been jailed after a nine-year-old boy in her care was found unresponsive in his bedroom. Catherine Walker, 47, was the legal guardian of Leon Walker, who police said lived in "conditions that no child should have to endure" at her home in Warsop, Nottinghamshire.
The youngster died in hospital after emergency services were called to the property on December 16, 2024.
Concerns raised over bedroom conditions
Police raised concerns over an electric socket hanging off Leon's bedroom wall and a bathroom-style lock on the outside of the door. Officers were also concerned about the room having no blinds or curtains in the window, with very little furniture and no radiator.
Walker said the room was undergoing renovations at the time of the incident, but an investigation found these claims to be untrue.
She later pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting and abandoning a child or young person to cause unnecessary suffering and/or injury. Both charges related to Leon, reports Nottinghamshire Live.
Background and school response
At the time of the offence, Walker was a member of staff at Nottinghamshire Police. She was suspended during the investigation.
Birklands Primary School sent a letter to parents and carers after Leon's death. It said: "I am very sorry to have to tell you that one of our pupils, Leon Walker, sadly passed away on Monday, 16th December.
"When someone dies, friends and family often experience a number of mixed emotions and you may find that your child will be upset, confused, anxious or fearful about what has happened."The staff will be offering support to the children in school, but you need to be aware that their feelings of grief may also be expressed at home."
An Ofsted report, published in July this year, states: "Inspectors were aware during this inspection of a serious incident involving a child who used to attend this school that had occurred since the previous inspection."
Sentence and impact
Walker was jailed for six years at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday. Her ex husband, who died shortly after Leon's death, was the boy's primary carer and had been mainly responsible for his treatment, the court heard.
Judge Stuart Rafferty KC said Walker had deliberately concealed and covered up the "gratuitous degradation" of the boy, adding that she had effectively sentenced herself to "a life of shame."
Detective Chief Inspector Gail Routledge, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "This was one of the most upsetting cases I can remember. This boy was very clearly mistreated for a significant period of time and was living in conditions that no child should have to endure.
"It was always our case that this mistreatment was a deliberate choice by the defendant, rather than the result of neglectful parenting. I am pleased she has now been held to account for her role in his death."
