Ashley McGovern Pleads Guilty to Child Neglect

Ashley McGovern, 31, abandoned a nine-year-old boy in a dark wooded area in East Lothian on September 9, 2022, before falsely claiming he was missing. The boy, who had spent the day in good spirits, was found 24 hours later, suffering from brain injuries and showing evidence of cocaine and alcohol in his system. McGovern pleaded guilty to wilfully neglecting the boy, which resulted in severe injury and danger to his life, while initially facing more serious charges including attempted murder. The incident led to a large-scale search involving police and rescue teams, ultimately revealing the boy was left alone with no food, water, or shoes. McGovern has been remanded in custody pending sentencing next month, emphasizing the severity of her actions. Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC highlighted the child's fear of the dark and the muddy conditions of the abandoned location during the incident.