No Jail for Woman Who Left Scared Little Boy with Brain Injury Alone in the Woods with No Food or Water

A 31-year-old woman from Scotland has avoided jail time after abandoning a nine-year-old boy overnight in a dark wooded area without food, water, or proper clothing, leaving him with serious injuries and long-term health consequences.

On September 9, 2022, Ashley McGovern drove the boy to Brock Wood near Spott, East Lothian.

She left him alone in the woods, sparking a massive 24-hour search involving 80 police officers, mountain rescue teams, and coastguard personnel, BBC reported.

During this time, she falsely claimed he was missing and misled authorities. The boy, exposed to cocaine and alcohol prior to the incident, was eventually found by a dog walker in a distressed state with brain injuries and other physical trauma.

McGovern pleaded guilty to willfully neglecting and ill-treating the child, leading to severe injury and permanent impairment.

Despite the severity of the charges, including her initial attempts to obstruct justice, she was sentenced to a three-year community payback order, 300 hours of unpaid work, and mandatory progress reviews.

The boy required extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation, spending over four months in recovery. He faces ongoing physical and neurological challenges, including potential permanent weakness on one side of his body.

Meanwhile, McGovern will remain under supervision as part of her sentence, with a focus on continued drug rehabilitation and mental health treatment.