Babysitter was so drunk he fell asleep while looking after toddler

Perth Sheriff Court: Craig Boyle was fined for being so drunk he fell asleep while babysitting.

A babysitter who got so drunk that he could not speak properly was found sleeping next to the toddler he was supposed to be looking after.

Craig Boyle was found on a bed as the two-year-old girl sat next to him. An open bottle of Buckfast was discarded beside them.

Perth Sheriff Court was told on Monday that Boyle had volunteered to look after the little girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, so her mother could take up a new part-time job.

But shortly after starting his babysitting shift he phoned the toddler's aunt and she was concerned about him because he was badly slurring his words.

He convinced her that he had simply taken painkillers to deal with toothache, but when he rang back hald an hour later he was completely incoherent and she called for help.

Boyle, 25, of Crieff, was fined £450 after he admitted exposing the child to unnecessary suffering by being unfit to look after her.

He admitted being unfit through drink or drugs, and falling asleep while he was in charge of her at another address in Crieff on June 18 last year.

Fiscal depute John Malpass said: "He had come to an arrangement that meant he would take care of the child to allow the mother to go back to part-time work.

"Her sister got a call from the accused and formed the impression he was under the influence of some substance. When challenged he said he had toothache and had taken painkillers. Half an hour later the accused phoned again and his condition had deteriorated, so much so that she could not make out anything that was being said by him.

"The child's mother was contacted at work and when she returned to the house she discovered Boyle lying on a bed fast asleep. The child, wearing only a vest, was wide awake at his side. They experienced difficulty in rousing the accused, but when he woke they formed the impression he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or both. There was a bottle of Buckfast lying at the side of the bed."

Mr Malpass said Boyle became argumentative when he was woke and the police were called.

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