Mother killed her 4-month-old son while high on drugs and alcohol

A mother who was high on a cocktail of drugs and alcohol killed her four-month-old son when she knocked a large television on to his head.

Natalie McMillan, 25, from Burnley in Lancashire had taken a mixture of heroin and Valium and was in no fit state to look after her son Kian when the incident happened.

The youngster suffered 'catastrophic' brain injuries the day after the television toppled from a cupboard while he was resting on a mat on the floor of the family home.

Ms McMillan had been attempting to move the tv to plug in a scart lead so she could watch a DVD when it fell.

Kian's father, Edward Hanratty, 41, was also under the influence of drugs at the time and had passed out on the kitchen floor earlier.

The pair had lived in Halifax until 2009 but McMillan ended the relationship and moved to Burnley to be closer to her family because she said Hanratty was violent and controlling.

But their relationship was rekindled despite the disapproval of McMillan's family and he effectively moved in with her.

Hanratty had previously had two children removed from his care with a different partner because of his drug problems.