Scots woman who abandoned terrified boy, 9, in woods then claimed child was missing dodges jail

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A drug addict who abandoned a frightened boy in a darkened wood before sparking a major missing person search was today spared a jail sentence.Ashley McGovern, 31, drove the nine-year-old into the countryside near her then home in East Lothian before leaving the child who had a fear of the dark.

McGovern went on to claim that the boy was missing prompting a large scale hunt for him involving 80 police officers, the force helicopter and mountain rescue and coastguard personnel.The boy was only found 24 hours later with no shoes and socks on after a dog walker heard the crying child.

The traumatised victim was found to have suffered brain injuries and spent more than four months in hospital undergoing extensive rehabilitation following his ordeal.It was found that there were traces of cocaine and alcohol in the boy's system indicating that he was exposed to the substances before being abandoned in the woods.

McGovern earlier admitted wilfully ill-treating and neglecting the boy to his severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of his life.She previously faced an accusation of attempting to murder the child.