Father 'was found asleep on baby Alfie Smith in Basford'

A three-month-old baby boy was found unconscious lying face down on a sofa under his father who was asleep, an inquest has heard.

Alfie Smith was found unconscious next to his father, Dale Anderson, in Basford, Stoke-on-Trent in February 2010.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Alfie was taken to hospital but died in June that year.

Alfie's mother Sheree Smith, aged 19, is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of a neighbour.

The hearing was told Alfie had been placed in the care of his maternal grandmother Patricia Owen by social services when the incident happened.

Ms Owen told Ian Smith, the HM Coroner for Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire, that she had gone downstairs to find Alfie lying face down at the back of a leather sofa next to Mr Anderson.

She said the father had been asleep and had rolled on top of the baby who was unconscious and was not breathing.

Cannabis traces

The court heard an ambulance was called for and Mr Anderson was told to carry out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The inquest was told that a blood test found no alcohol in Mr Anderson's system but did find traces of cannabis.

Prior to Alfie's death his mother had been arrested, but not charged, for being drunk in charge of a child, the inquest also heard.

Following the incident in February, the baby was placed in foster care but died in June as a result of his injuries, the court heard.

The inquest is due to finish on Wednesday.