Inside Laura Heath’s house where ‘neglected’ son Hakeem Hussain died

Shocking pictures show how a mum addicted to heroin and crack used her son’s INHALER to smoke drugs before he died from a fatal asthma attack, a court heard.

Laura Heath, 39, has gone on trial charged with manslaughter following the death of seven-year-old Hakeem Hussain in November 2017.

A court heard how the youngster’s body was found in near-freezing conditions in the garden of a house on Cook Street, in Nechells, Birmingham.

Two ambulances and a paramedic rushed to the scene at 7.30am on November 26, 2017 but the schoolboy could not be saved.

Drug addict Heath is accused of fatally neglecting her son which included exposing him to heroin and crack cocaine.

Photographs released by West Midlands Police are said to show Hakeem’s asthma pumps wrapped in foil next to "drug paraphernalia".

A court heard how she would "source heroin and crack cocaine” as her “first priority in life" ahead of the welfare of her young son.

Hakeem was also made to sleep on a sofa in squalid conditions, while his jumper smelled of urine and his school uniform reeked of cigarettes, jurors were told.

Further photographs shown to the jury at Coventry Crown Court show two cramped houses where Heath and Hakeem stayed cluttered full of rubbish.

Heath and Hakeem had moved from a property on Long Acre to a house on Cook Street with them going back and forth between the two.

Other images show piles of bags and boxes piled inside a cot as well as other "unclean" rooms which were said to have "smelled of raw smoke."

The court heard Hakeem’s breathing got worse "day by day" and the night before he was found dead he had gone outside alone to get some air.

No medication was found alongside his body and a post-mortem concluded Hakeem’s cause of death was acute exacerbation of asthma.

Hakeem was also known to social services and was classed as "vulnerable" due to concerns about "neglect, attendance issues and his home life".

A child protection meeting was held two days before his death where a school nurse had warned Hakeem was at risk of dying and should be removed from his mum.

But it was decided he should not be removed from his Heath’s care despite his being as a "serious risk of harm."

Friends also told the court how they witnessed Heath smoking class A drugs while Hakeem was feeling ill in the next room - just 24 hours before he died.

Heath, of no fixed address, denies gross negligence manslaughter.

She has admitted four counts of child cruelty relating to neglect by failing to provide him with proper medical supervision and exposing him to heroin and crack cocaine.

The trial continues.

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