Lauren Wade, who was two years and five months old, died from complications arising from malnutrition in March 2015
The parents of a malnourished toddler who died after she was left starving for months and riddled with thousands of head lice, have been jailed.
Margaret Wade, 38, and Marie Sweeney, 37, left Lauren Wade to starve to death at their filthy flat in Glasgow's Sighthill.
Lauren, who was just two years and five months old, died in hospital from complications arising from malnutrition in March 2015.
Medical staff found she was emaciated and infested with head lice when she was brought in after being found unresponsive at her home.
She was pronounced dead around 30 minutes after she was taken to hospital.
The 'skinny and dirty' toddler had a sodden nappy, bald patches and thousands of head lice.
There was evidence that lice had been there for 'over 17 months' of her life.
Paramedics later noticed that the cover she had been lying on was covered in lice and fleas and had to clean and decontaminate the ambulance, the court heard.
A police officer who visited the flat where the family lived described it as 'one of the most disgusting houses he had ever seen in his career'.
The court heard it was littered with rubbish, leftover food, dirty plates and clothes and infected with hundreds of insects and flies.
Wade, who was Lauren's biological mother, told police she had 'no guilt' over her daughter's death.
Wade (left) and Sweeney (right) admitted wilfully ill-treating and neglecting the child last month, and also pleaded guilty to similar charges in respect of two older children
Wade and Sweeney admitted wilfully ill-treating and neglecting the child last month, and also pleaded guilty to similar charges in respect of two older children.
They were each jailed for six years and four months at the High Court in Glasgow today.
Lady Stacey told them the youngsters had been subjected to a 'chaotic' lifestyle and 'were entitled to a better home life than they had.'
The judge added: 'When your youngest daughter died, your house was in a shocking state. You knew the children were dependent on you. You failed in your duties to these children.'
Wade and Sweeney, who had been in a relationship for 15 years, both regarded themselves as mothers to
