Parents Jake Alderton, 22, and Emma Louise Jones, 23, appeared in court as the mum said she “didn’t think dental care was down her” as one child had 16 teeth extracted.
A mum and dad are facing jail after leaving two children “looking like street urchins from Oliver Twist”.
Jake Alderton, 22, and Emma Louise Jones, 23, left the family home filthy and kept barely any food in the house.
The two-year-old boy and three-year-old girl had lice crawling in their hair, were unwashed and could grab drugs easily in what was described as a “seriously dangerous house”.
The little girl had to have 16 rotting teeth extracted and her mother told authorities she didn’t think dental care was down to her.
The neglected children didn’t know how to eat properly or even what a bath was.
Police who attending the home described it as one of the worst cases of neglect they had ever seen.
Mrs Lisa Hine, prosecuting, told Furness Magistrates’ Court: “When the foster carers were handed these two children they described them as looking like street urchins from Oliver Twist.
“They were in a terrible state. They were filthy and there was no food in the house.
“There were drugs within easy reach of them both.”
She added that the house was filthy and the young boy had bruising and scratching to his skin.
Mrs Hine said: “In relation to dental care, the older child had not been cared for at all and had to have 16 teeth extracted because they were rotten.
“Her mother said she didn’t think dental care was down to her.
“The children were filthy, they had lice in their hair and didn’t know what a bath was or how to eat properly.”
The pair, from Ulverston, Cumbria, pleaded guilty to one count of the ill treatment and neglect of the children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to health on June 20, last year.
Alderton also admitted possession of cannabis on the same date.
Mr Graham Jackson, defending, said in light of the admission he would ask for the preparation of reports before sentencing. He made no further representations.
The pair will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on March 27.
