THE parents of a tragic toddler who died due to horrific neglect have each been jailed for six years and four months.

Margaret Wade, 38, and Marie Sweeney, 37, left Lauren Wade to starve to death at their filthy flat in Glasgow's Sighthill.

5 Margaret Wade and Marie Sweeney have been jailed

A judge heard how the two year-old went without proper food or care for months and was riddled with thousands of head lice.

Wade later told police she had "no guilt" over her daughter's death.

Wade and Sweeney were sentenced today at the High Court in Glasgow.

The jobless pair - who had been accused of killing Lauren - had earlier pled guilty to the reduced charge of neglecting the toddler between June 2014 and March 2015.

5 Tragic tot Lauren starved to death

The duo also admitted in court to neglecting two other children between 2007 and 2015.

Lady Stacey told them the youngsters had been subjected to a “chaotic” lifestyle.

The judge added: “They were entitled to a better home-life than they had.

“When your youngest daughter died, your house was a in a shocking state.

“I don't think you need me to point out, but you had been offered advice, it was not taken.

“You knew the children were dependent on you. You failed in your duties to these children.”

Lady Stacey said the jail term would have been seven years, but for the guilty pleas.

Wade and Sweeney both showed no emotion as they were lead handcuffed to the cells.

The pair - a couple for 15 years - both regarded themselves as parents to Lauren.

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They moved to a flat in the city's Fountainwell Drive in 2011 - which a detective later branded "one of the most disgusting" he had seen in his career.

A sick Lauren was described as "emaciated" in the days before she died.

Wade insisted her “pale and tired” daughter had a cold.

5 Lauren was found in filthy Glasgow flat

Prosecutor Bill McVicar said: “The most significant effect of the failure to provide a proper diet is the malnutrition of Lauren which caused complications leading to her death.”

On March 20 2015, a 999 call was made after the child was found to be “unresponsive”.

A "skinny and dirty" Lauren had a sodden nappy, bald patches and thousands of head lice.

She was rushed to hospital – but around 30 minutes later was pronounced dead.

Mr McVicar: “Paramedics later noticed that the cover she had been lying on was covered in lice and fleas.

“They had to clean and decontaminate the ambulance.”

Wade told nurses Lauren had been suffering from a virus for a couple of days.

5 Evil pair at Lauren's funeral Credit: Tom Farmer - The Sun Glasgow

A post mortem revealed the toddler had been the victim of “severe neglect”.

The court heard Lauren died due to “complications with malnutrition”.

There was also evidence that lice had been there for “over 17 months” of her life.

Police probed the awful living conditions Lauren and two other youngsters had been subjected to.

Mr McVicar: “It was neither a suitable nor safe environment for children.”

The court heard it was littered with rubbish, leftover food, dirty plates and clothes.

There were also hundreds of insects and flies due to the stinking mess.

Mr McVicar: “The kitchen was so full of bags of rubbish that there was barely enough space to open the door.

“There were numerous empty Pot Noodle cartons all with flies.

“Pot Noodle appeared to be the staple family diet.”

In one bedroom, the clutter was so bad the carpet was “almost invisible”.

5 Lauren was laid to rest in pink coffin in 2016 Credit: Tom Farmer - The Sun Glasgow

Mr McVicar: “It is clear the failure to provide proper accommodation was a long-standing issue which did not simply emerge in the days or weeks before the death of Lauren.”

It emerged that a school nurse made an unprompted visit amid concerns back in June 2014.

Social workers were alerted before a health visitor found the flat to be "messy".

A further inspection was then planned – it was during this the home was said to be clean and “unrecognisable”.

But, Mr McVicar explained: “Since that visit the conditions deteriorated again...causing all three children to live again in an unsafe and unhygenic environment.

“This exposed them to the risk of infection and un-necessary suffering – in the case of Lauren may have played a part in her death.”

Wade and Sweeney were initially treated as "witnesses" following the death.

The pair went on to be assessed by social workers.

Mr McVicar: “Margaret Wade accepted no responsibility for her failings in basic parenting.

“She said she had no guilt over Lauren's death.”

Sweeney meantime accepted she should have been “more forceful” regarding the state of the house.

Wade's QC Brian McConnachie today said her mental health issues were “partially responsible” for the crimes.

Lady Stacey went on to point out that “advice” in helping care for the children had been offered in 2007 then again in 2014, but was “not taken”.

Mr McConnachie replied: “She fully accepts that – such was her internal difficulties she did not find it easy to accept outside help.

“She deeply regrets that.”

Sweeney's QC Ian Duguid said she had not been “trying to hide” what was a “very sick or malnourished child”.

He added: “She accepts that she has let down the children badly – one with very catastrophic consequences.”

Lady Stacey imposed three year jail terms for the neglect of the other children, but these will run concurrently to the sentence involving Lauren.

Matt Forde, NSPCC Scotland head of service said: "The details of Lauren’s death represent one of the most appalling examples of neglect that is possible to imagine. It is incomprehensible how two people who were meant to look after a child in their care could subject her to such appalling harm.

"While this heartbreaking case is an extreme example of child neglect, we know that thousands of children across Scotland and the UK are suffering the long-lasting effects of this form of child cruelty.

"Neglect is, sadly, the most common form of child abuse and it is everyone’s responsibility to spot the signs. The NSPCC’s Helpline is always available for anyone with concerns about a child’s welfare."

Adults concerned about child neglect can contact the NSPCC Helpline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0808 800 5000, or help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.

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