A major investigation is under way into why a monster who kept a toddler in a cage was allowed to look after children – when she’d already tried to sell a baby for £1million.
Evil Claire Boyle, 34, was convicted of child neglect after the horrific incident at her Ayrshire home where a little boy was trapped in the modified cot.
It was Boyle’s third neglect conviction after being found under the influence of drink or drugs on a couch with a distressed child at her feet.
She was later convicted again for trying to sell a baby on Ayr High Street.
Ayrshire social workers are assessing if the abuse involving the cage could have been prevented.
A source close to the probe said: “She should never have been allowed anywhere near any child after her first neglect conviction.
“She was allowed to still look after children – it’s madness. The whole sorry situation sums up how broken the system really is.
“To say they failed would be an understatement. If they’d done their jobs properly, this would never have happened.”
Last week, we told how Boyle was caught in the latest case after a four-year-old got out of her home through a window.
She’d previously been banned from looking after kids.
Boyle was banned from looking after kids in 2014 and 2015.
It’s understood her 2014 conviction relates to police attending her home in 2013 and finding her under the influence on a couch with the distressed youngster, who was just a few months old, lying on the floor.
In 2015, Ayr Sheriff Court heard she’d tried to sell a youngster in Ayr High Street for £1million – and also shook the boy, shouted at him and abandoned him in a “damp and draughty” close in the town.
Social Work were also supposed to be regularly seeing any children she was in charge of to ensure they were not being abused.
But the older boy was able to flee the home by squeezing through a six-inch gap between the pane and the frame, and dropping four feet to the ground.
He was found in the street in the rain in just his pyjamas, leading to a police probe.
Cops went to Boyle’s home, where they found the two-year-old boy trapped in a cot, with the base tied over the top.
The older boy was taken to hospital where medics found so many bruises they thought he may have a blood clotting disorder or cancer.
Feckless Boyle – who claimed the older boy self-harmed and the cot was modified to protect the younger boy – later moved to Newmilns, where she was caught with the lad in the case
Boyle and partner Timothy Johnstone, 57, were convicted of neglect following a trial at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.
The case has been adjourned for background reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing.
South Ayrshire Council confirmed that a review of their handling the children’s safety is now under way. A spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of children is always a priority.
“A Significant Case Review has been launched in partnership with East Ayrshire Council, the review is being led by Professor Paul Martin, chair of the Child Protection Committee.
“Since the review is under way, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time.”
Marion MacAulay, head of children’s health, care and justice services at East Ayrshire Council said: “We are aware of the circumstances surrounding these children and we are working with the relevant agencies in accordance with national guidance.
“We launched a Significant Case Review in partnership with South Ayrshire Council as soon as the circumstances were made known to us.
“Given the ongoing review, it is not appropriate for us to make further comment.”