Lincolnshire Police has referred itself to the watchdog after a toddler was found dead at the knees of his deceased father a week after the alarm was first raised about them.
The body of two-year-old Bronson Battersby was found alongside his 60-year-old dad Kenneth at a flat in Skegness on January 9 following a week of frantic attempts to contact them by concerned social services.
Kenneth is believed to have died from a heart attack around New Year, with two-year-old Bronson passing away days later from starvation and dehydration.
Their bodies were found by a social worker who had called at the house twice in the week beforehand only to receive no answer, and who contacted the police twice before finding the bodies themselves seven days after first reporting their concerns.
Lincolnshire Police says it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct which will review its actions, while Lincolnshire County Council has also pledged a ‘rapid review’.
Two-year-old Bronson Battersby starved to death next to his dead father after he suffered a heart attack, his devastated family has revealed
Bronson was found curled up in his pyjamas next to his father Kenneth (pictured), 60, who is believed to have suffered a heart attack shortly after he was last seen alive on Boxing Day
A pram and scooter could be seen in the garden outside the house where Bronson and Kenneth were found
Toddler Bronson – who was classified as vulnerable by social services and was meant to have weekly visits – was last seen alive by his mother Sarah Piesse, who had rowed with Kenneth over the festive period, just before Christmas.
The father and son were then spotted by a neighbour on Boxing Day, but Kenneth, 60, is thought to have succumbed to a heart attack before the turn of the year.
A social worker first raised the alarm to police on January 2 when she was unable to reach Kenneth following a routine visit to the house and enquiries through friends and family.
They visited again on January 4 but there was still no response from them and again the police were alerted.
Five days later, the bodies of the pair were tragically discovered, with a starved and dehydrated Bronson curling up at his dead father’s knees in the dark.
He was sat alongside their pet boxer dog Skylar who was found emaciated but survived.
Earlier today video showed the toddler beaming as he celebrated his first birthday with a Teletubbies cake – just months before he was found starved to death.
Emotional footage shows Bronson Battersby being presented with the cake – adorned with a burning candle and a picture of him as the sun from the popular children’s TV series – by his loving family.
The two year-old is serenaded in the clip with the song ‘Happy Birthday’ before his mother Sarah Piesse blows out the candle for him and leads the family in chanting ‘hip hip hooray’ on his first birthday in September 2022.
Sarah, 43, told The Sun: ‘If social services had done their job Bronson would still be alive.
‘I can’t believe it. They can’t let them get away with this. We have to be able to rely on social workers to keep our children safe.’
‘I’ve had the results of the post mortem. Bronson starved to death because his dad died. They think Kenneth died no earlier than December 29.
‘It means if the social worker had pushed to get in when she got no reply on January 2 then Bronson would still have been alive.’
On Facebook, Bronson’s sister Melaniie Battersby wrote: ‘Beautiful little boy deserved so much better than this life. We love you Bronson, forever a part of us, and forever my baby brother.’
Adding her ‘head and heart’ were ‘in pieces’, she said: ‘A lot of anger inside at minute when I just want to remember his little smile and soft nature instead. He were perfect.’
Bronson’s mother Sarah Piesse (pictured), 43, said she thought Bronson would be alive ‘if social services had done their job’
Sarah last saw Bronson after getting into an argument with Kenneth before Christmas
Mother-of-three Sarah last saw Bronson after getting into an argument with Kenneth before Christmas.
A friend of the family said the toddler enjoyed watching the Cocomelon, adored nursery rhymes and often played his Little Tykes drum kit.
They added that it was horrible to think that the ‘gorgeous’ boy who was ‘always smiling and so loving’ had been ‘left in the dark and must have been terrified and so confused’.
In a written tribute left attached to a bouquet of flower at the house where they were found, one heartbroken friend said: ‘Kenny and Bronson, it’s been a pleasure knowing you both. Going to miss the footy banter and Bronson going to miss your cheeky little smile. Can’t believe you have both grew your angel wings. RIP.’
Bronson was last seen alive by his neighbour after they visited the house on Boxing Day. Kenneth then messaged the same neighbour saying: ‘Thanks so much for caring, it means the world to me and Bronson.’
That same day, the social worker texted Kenneth to arrange a visit on January 2.
She contacted the police when she did not receive any answer during the visit and did the same again when she returned to the house on January 4.
The social worker then decided to enter the property herself on January 9 using a key from the landlord.
Heartbroken friends and neighbours have left floral tributes to the pair outside the Skegness home
In one written tribute friends said they would miss Bronson’s ‘cheeky little smile’ and Kenneth’s ‘footy banter’
On Facebook, Bronson’s sister Melaniie Battersby wrote: ‘Beautiful little boy deserved so much better than this life. We love you Bronson, forever a part of us, and forever my baby brother’
She found the bodies of Bronson and Kenneth and contacted police, who then rushed to the scene along with paramedics at around 3.25pm. The pair were pronounced dead at the scene.
Kenneth was unemployed and had a pre-existing heart condition which had caused him to become severely jaundiced is the months leading up to his death.
Bronson was also classified as vulnerable by social services meaning that he received weekly visits from social workers.
The Sun said it understands the social worker has voluntarily taken time off.
Heather Sandy, executive director for children’s services, said: ‘This was a tragic incident, and we are supporting the family at this difficult time.
‘We are carrying out a review of the case alongside partner agencies to better understand the circumstances, and we await the results of the coroner’s investigations as well.
‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved.’
A spokeswoman for Lincolnshire Police said: ‘Police were made aware of the deaths of a 60-year-old man and a two-year-old child at a property in Skegness, at around 3.25pm on January 9.
‘Investigations have been carried out and the deaths are not being treated as suspicious.’
has contacted Lincolnshire Police for further comment.