A single mother, 28, from Portsmouth, Hants (UK), neglected her 9-year old son so badly that he developed a condition called psychosocial dwarfism. Social workers found that the kid was not being given breakfast, had lice and never went to a doctor. The mother had never taught him to brush his teeth resulting in decaying molar teeth.

Daniel Sawyer, prosecuting, said ‘In 2008 police had searched her home regarding an unrelated matter and discovered the three bedroom house was untidy and grubby.’

‘Social workers were called in and interviewed the boy at school. They found he had ingrained dirt on his palms and scratches on his forearms that came from a puppy.’

‘He was extremely short at the age of nine and significantly shorter than his six year old brother, for which the most likely diagnosis is psychosocial dwarfism.’

‘He made no eye contact with the social workers and looked at the floor the whole time.’

‘Every night they would go to McDonald’s and have burgers, chips or chicken nuggets. He did not have breakfast and went to school hungry.’

‘He did not get regular baths and went to school smelling of urine and faeces.’

‘When he went to live with his father he would eat his food very quickly and exhibit hoarding behaviour.’

‘At four in the morning he would get up, take food and hide it in places.’

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk