A BRADFORD mum who left her two small children home alone for nine hours while she went out drinking has escaped jail.

The woman, who is aged in her 30s but cannot be identified, was an alcoholic, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Richard Walters said the woman’s son and daughter, both aged under five, had been found wandering by a busy road in Bradford at around 1.30am on March 15.

They were barefoot and wearing pyjamas and said their mum had gone out and they needed to find her.

Police waited at the woman’s address, the court heard, and she returned shortly before 6am.

She has previous convictions for child neglect dating back to 2015.

Abigail Langford, for the defendant, said she had been a victim of child sexual exploitation herself and had difficulties with alcohol for a number of years.

Since her arrest, she had begun treatment for her alcoholism and counselling.

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The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, said she was an alcoholic mum who had abandoned her children. “You need intensive assistance to rid yourself of this evil disease.”

The woman received a 14 months suspended jail sentence and must carry our 250 hours of unpaid work as well as a rehabilitation activity.