Bronson Battersby: Review after boy, two, and dad found dead

Bronson Battersby is believed to have died alone from starvation after his father succumbed to a heart attack

A two-year-old boy and his dad have been found dead at a property in Skegness, prompting a "rapid review".

Bronson Battersby was found alone in the house with his 60-year-old dad, Kenneth Battersby, on 9 January.

It is thought the toddler, who has been described as the "light of his dad's eye", starved to death after Mr Battersby had a heart attack.

The family was known to children's services and Lincolnshire County Council has launched an inquiry.

Its executive director of children's services, Heather Sandy, described the deaths as "devastating".

"It is a tragedy that Kenneth died of a heart attack," she told BBC Radio 4's World at One.

"He was at home on his own with Bronson and that meant that there was nobody left to give Bronson care, and sadly as a result of that, Bronson has also passed away."

Lincoln Coroner's Office said an inquest had not yet been opened as it was "waiting for further information from the pathologist".

Ms Sandy said a review of various agencies' involvement would be carried out.

She added: "This is absolutely devastating for us and very much more devastating for the family, and our thoughts are with them."

Ms Sandy confirmed a social worker "had contact" with Mr Battersby on 27 December, with a home visit then arranged for 2 January.

'Chance to be good dad'

"The social worker went to Bronson and Kenneth's home and had no response to the knock at the door, so she looked at other addresses to try and locate Bronson, and when she failed to do that she spoke to her manager and she contacted police," she said.

The social worker made another attempt on 4 January and because she could not legally gain entry, alerted the landlady following a third failed attempt on 9 January, Ms Sandy added.

Ms Sandy told BBC Look North the rapid review of various agencies would take about 15 days to complete and findings would be passed to a national panel to make a decision on the next steps.

She said in cases "such as these" they would normally visit monthly.

"So we'd normally be visiting the families at monthly or less intervals, so in terms of that timeline between the 4th and the 9th, that will be the subject of a rapid review," she said.

"What's really important is that we understand fully what has happened, so the rapid review will allow all of those agencies to come together and to look at what has happened."

She added: "Nobody had anticipated that Kenneth was going to be poorly and die and so actually there is a significant amount of tragedy within this case."

Emergency services found their bodies at a property in Prince Alfred Avenue on 9 January

Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman described the events as a tragedy.

"It does appear that social services made repeated contact - they tried to get hold and the system did not seem to understand the potential gravity of the situation," he said.

"That's what we've got to try and understand."

A neighbour described Bronson as a "gorgeous, happy little boy", adding "his dad was his best friend".

Maria Clifton-Plaice, Mr Battersby's landlady, said she was "just heartbroken", describing finding his body as one of the "worst [days] of my life".

She said she did not know Bronson well but added: "I know he'd come and started staying with Kenny recently and he was just probably the light of his dad's eye.

"He was, I think, Kenny's chance to be a good dad."

At the scene

By Crispin Rolfe, BBC Look North

Prince Alfred Avenue is just off the Skegness seafront, a short distance from the attractions and backing on to the east coast resort's Tower Gardens.

Neighbours are still coming to terms with the deaths and recalled how the emergency services arrived, coming in ever greater numbers after the discovery of the bodies.

Three attempts were made by a social worker to see Kenneth and Bronson in Prince Alfred Avenue

Many have spoken fondly of Kenneth, describing father and son as like "two peas in a pod".

There is upset here at the news. One friend of the family told me "the boy was loved, his needs were met, and this was just a series of unfortunate events".

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told Prime Minister's Questions he was "saddened" to hear how the father and son had died in "heartbreaking circumstances".

Lincolnshire Police said it was not treating the deaths as suspicious but had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), adding it was standard procedure in such cases.

Timeline

• 27 December A social worker "has contact" with Mr Battersby and a home visit is arranged.

• 2 January The social worker arrives at the property but there is no response at the door. She tries to locate Bronson at other addresses and unable to find him, speaks to her manager and the police.

• 4 January A second attempt at a home visit is made. Again, there is no response. The social worker informs police.

• 9 January A third attempt is made and the social worker alerts Mr Battersby's landlady. Entry is gained and the bodies of both father and son are found.

• 15 January Lincolnshire County Council notifies the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel of a serious incident that meets the criteria for rapid review.

• 17 January Lincolnshire County Council confirms a review is under way and Lincolnshire Police says it has referred itself to the IOPC.

Source: Lincolnshire County Council, Lincolnshire Police

The rapid review will involve the council, police force, and any relevant health organisations.

It must be completed within 15 working days of the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel being notified of a serious incident that meets the criteria - 2 February in this case.

It will then go to the national panel, which has 15 working days to decide the next steps.

These include whether a national review is appropriate, further information is required to support decision-making, or if they agree and support the outcomes and recommendations made by partners involved in the rapid review.