Four children were killed in a blaze after their mother locked them alone in a rubbish strewn home while she went shopping at Sainsbury’s, a court heard today.
Two sets of twins, Kyson and Bryson Hoath, aged four, and their siblings, Leyton and Logan Hoath, aged three, died after their mother Deveca Rose, 29, went out shopping leaving either a discarded cigarette or an upturned tea light in their living room, which was 20cm deep in rubbish, it was said.
Neighbours heard the children screaming for help and kicked down the door, but they were unable to save the twins who were overcome by smoke.
The Old Bailey heard today how the mother-of-four neglected her children, who lived in appalling conditions with human excrement all over the floor and rats attracted by mounds of rubbish.
The single mother is accused of killing her four sons and committing child cruelty before the tragedy in Sutton, South London which happened days before Christmas in 2021.
Just months before the blaze social services attempted to intervene as they were worried about Rose’s ‘mental health’ after finding her cluttered home and front garden full of bags of waste, the court heard.
Rose allegedly refused to let a social worker see her sons, saying she ‘had disassociated’, explaining that she faints or sleeps and ‘isn’t able to focus on anything’.
Despite mounting concerns, the case was later dropped due to ‘lack of availability/engagement’ after the social worker was unable to see the family during six unsuccessful home visits, the jury heard.
Teachers had also attempted unsuccessfully to contact her after the children failed to attend school three weeks before the fire, but it was assumed that Rose must be self-isolating during the Covid pandemic.
On December 16 at 6.30pm, Rose allegedly left her four children home alone to go to Sainsburys for ‘non-essential items’, explaining later that she had to go because ‘I was f****** going crazy because they (the boys) were pulling open rubbish bags.’
Prosecutor Kate Lumsdon, KC, said: ‘While she was away, neighbours realised the house was on fire. The children could be heard inside. The door was shut.
‘A neighbour kicked in the door but the fire had taken hold to the extent that it was impossible to enter.
‘The fire brigade were called. Many units attended.
‘They found the four boys under a bed in the upstairs front room.
‘Firemen noted that there was rubbish all over the floor of the house and human excrement. There was a mattress and a door lying on the stairs.
‘Lifesaving attempts were made on the pavement outside, but there was nothing that could be done.’
When Rose returned home to find the road full of fire engines, she is said to have sought refuge in a neighbour’s home telling them that she had left the children with a babysitter.
But the mystery babysitter has never been traced and may not exist, Ms Lumsdon said.
She told jurors: ‘Ms Rose has lost all four of her children due to her own fault. Her grief must be immense.
‘She will blame herself. It may be said that she has suffered enough.
‘However, it is not only Ms Rose who must be considered in these circumstances. We must consider her children, who were bright and full of life, and their lives have been needlessly taken away.’
Today the defendant sobbed and made loud moaning noises in the dock as the case started.
Jurors were told that Rose was wearing sunglasses and headphones due to an eye condition after the judge granted her permission to observe the trial from a side room with lower lighting.
Rose denies four counts of manslaughter and one of child cruelty.
The trial continues