A Lincoln mother has been found guilty of manslaughter after her two-year-old son, Harlow Collinge, died from swallowing a button battery while she was asleep, in a case that has shocked the nation.
Katie Crowder, 25, made a desperate 999 call after discovering her son lifeless, but the operator noted her voice sounded "monotone" and lacking in urgency. Prosecutors revealed this wasn't the first time Crowder had neglected her children while sleeping.
The Tragic Discovery
Paramedics rushed to the scene on March 23, 2022, finding Harlow already in cardiac arrest. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at Lincoln County Hospital. A post-mortem examination revealed the devastating cause - a button battery had burned through his food pipe and into a major artery.
A Pattern of Neglect
The court heard disturbing evidence of Crowder's repeated neglect. She had previously been warned by social services about leaving her children unsupervised while she slept. On the day Harlow died, she had been sleeping for hours while the toddler had access to dangerous items.
Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC told the court: "She was warned about the risks of falling asleep and leaving her children unsupervised. She failed to heed those warnings."
The Heartbreaking Evidence
During the trial, jurors heard the recording of Crowder's 999 call where she stated: "My two-year-old son is not breathing." The operator noted her voice lacked the panic and distress typically heard in genuine emergency situations.
Police later found multiple hazards in the home, including accessible button batteries and other small items that posed choking risks to young children.
Community in Mourning
The tragic case has highlighted the dangers of button batteries in households with young children. Local child safety advocates are calling for increased awareness about the hidden dangers these common household items pose.
Crowder will be sentenced next month at Lincoln Crown Court, facing the consequences of what the judge described as "a catastrophic failure of parental responsibility."
