A mother in Almonte (Huelva) was arrested for leaving her 7-year-old son, locked in his room with chains and a padlock on the door.

Police were alerted to the situation by neighbours who had phoned to report that a child was crying and begging for somebody to let him out.

The Policía Local attended and with the help of the fire service gained entrance to the flat and the room, which was in a lamentable state of hygiene. Such was the condition of the boy that the child-protection personnel that accompanied the police bathed the child and bought clothing for him to be able to put on something clean, as well as feeding him.

The child was taken away but the police remained to await the mother, who when she did turn up, was immediately arrested.

The child has been taken into care and the mother, after appearing before a magistrate, has had a court order served against her, ordering her to remain at least 200 metres from the boy at all times.

Apparently the mother left the child in this fashion from 06.30h to 16.30h every day that he didn’t have school, as these were her work hours.

(News: Almonte, Huelva, Andalucia)