An Oldham woman who was sentenced this week for abandoning a child in her care has been given a further community order for assaults on family members.

Natalie Bell admitted she abandoned the youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to go drinking and was discovered by the fire service when a tap was left on at the property she was at.

The child was left alone for nine hours.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard on that occasion one of the firefighters had thought she was dead because she was so intoxicated.

The firefighters found the child unharmed but the property had been left unlocked for the duration of the incident.

The court also heard she had since relocated to Bolton as part of an effort to get her away from those she had previously gone drinking with.

The 30-year-old was placed on an 18 month community order, required to attend 25 rehabilitation activity days, complete an alcohol treatment requirement for nine months and do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Maurice Green commented when he passed sentence that "anything could have happened" to the child while it was left alone.

And yesterday at Manchester Magistrates’ Court she was sentenced for assaults on her mother and sister last month.

She admitted one common assault and one assault by beating.

Bell, now of Bury Road in Bolton, was placed on a six month community order and instructed to attend another six rehabilitation activity requirement days.