yes, well.......Daily Mail

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1304003/British-mum-abandoned-girl-11-to-bar-Spanish-seaside-resort.html

A British holidaymaker has been arrested after allegedly leaving her 11-year-old daughter alone in a Spanish resort while she went to a bar.
Alicia Jenkins, 42, sat drinking in the bar for hours while the child wandered around a nearby beach, it is claimed.

The child was found by a British couple concerned that she was unsupervised in the busy seaside town.

But when they took the girl to the bar, where her mother had been drinking for at least two hours, they were told to '**** off and leave me alone,' it is alleged.
Facing jail: British holidaymaker Alicia Jenkins is accused of leaving her 11-year-old daughter to wander the beach in Salou, Spain
The couple eventually took the girl to her hotel in the resort of Salou, on the Costa Dorada, in north-east Spain, where staff called police.

A spokesman for the regional police force, said: 'A British woman was arrested on Sunday evening for abandoning her 11-year-old daughter while she went drinking in a bar.

'The girl was helped by a concerned British couple on the beach, but when they went to the bar to find the mother she started swearing at them and being abusive.

'She was very drunk. They took the girl back to the beach and when the woman did not turn up some time later they took the girl to the hotel where she and her mother were staying.

'Hotel staff called the police and our officers went to the bar where the woman was detained.

'By that stage the girl had been out of her care for most of the afternoon. She was taken to a children's care home to be looked after.'

The girl and her mother, from Builth Wells, in Powys, Wales, had arrived in Salou, a popular party resort, last Friday. They were staying at the three-star California Garden Hotel.

She is expected to face a fast-track trial. Under Spanish law parents who abandon their children face jail sentences of 18 months to three years. If the child is put in danger, it can be up to four years.

WHAT??????????? So its ok for toddlers to be left alone ina hotel room but not a 11 year old??????????

ann_chovey wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1304003/British-mum-abandoned-girl-11-to-bar-Spanish-seaside-resort.html

A British holidaymaker has been arrested after allegedly leaving her 11-year-old daughter alone in a Spanish resort while she went to a bar.
Alicia Jenkins, 42, sat drinking in the bar for hours while the child wandered around a nearby beach, it is claimed.

The child was found by a British couple concerned that she was unsupervised in the busy seaside town.

But when they took the girl to the bar, where her mother had been drinking for at least two hours, they were told to '**** off and leave me alone,' it is alleged.
Facing jail: British holidaymaker Alicia Jenkins is accused of leaving her 11-year-old daughter to wander the beach in Salou, Spain
The couple eventually took the girl to her hotel in the resort of Salou, on the Costa Dorada, in north-east Spain, where staff called police.

A spokesman for the regional police force, said: 'A British woman was arrested on Sunday evening for abandoning her 11-year-old daughter while she went drinking in a bar.

'The girl was helped by a concerned British couple on the beach, but when they went to the bar to find the mother she started swearing at them and being abusive.

'She was very drunk. They took the girl back to the beach and when the woman did not turn up some time later they took the girl to the hotel where she and her mother were staying.

'Hotel staff called the police and our officers went to the bar where the woman was detained.

'By that stage the girl had been out of her care for most of the afternoon. She was taken to a children's care home to be looked after.'

The girl and her mother, from Builth Wells, in Powys, Wales, had arrived in Salou, a popular party resort, last Friday. They were staying at the three-star California Garden Hotel.

She is expected to face a fast-track trial. Under Spanish law parents who abandon their children face jail sentences of 18 months to three years. If the child is put in danger, it can be up to four years.

Shame the McNeglecters weren't holidaying in Spain .................

The Mother has behaved disgracefully and deserves all she gets. What if the Girl was approached by some
pedophile and was niaive enought to go off with him???? They were staying at an Hotel which presumably had
a Pool and could have stayed drinking there while their daughter used the Pool and maybe made Friends with
other children in the Hotel.

As for the Mother swearing at the well meaning couple .......what can you say.!!!

Gerry"s "it was our holiday too" remark springs to mind.

This silly woman should have told everyone she was a British doctor who was checking on her daughter every half hour between drinks. She could be riding the crest of the wave by now!

Panda wrote:
The Mother has behaved disgracefully and deserves all she gets. What if the Girl was approached by some
pedophile and was niaive enought to go off with him???? They were staying at an Hotel which presumably had
a Pool and could have stayed drinking there while their daughter used the Pool and maybe made Friends with
other children in the Hotel.

As for the Mother swearing at the well meaning couple .......what can you say.!!!

Gerry"s "it was our holiday too" remark springs to mind.

'If she had an accident in the apartment, how could that be our fault'.....I could go on....Grrrr!

pennylane wrote:This silly woman should have told everyone she was a British doctor who was checking on her daughter every half hour between drinks. She could be riding the crest of the wave by now!

doesnt portugal have a minimum 2 year sentence for child neglect if so why did the mcanns get away with leaving 3 kids under 4 alone when this mum with a 11 year old didnt i mean i know spain isnt portugal but you know what i mean

Yes Portugal has a minimum charge of 2years IF the child is under the age of twelve, also, the sentence would be longer if the Police can prove that he/she may be in danger, appliances, swimming pool etc etc, such as the case with Madeleine.

How on earth these two whackjobs are still free baffles me - but it wont be for long of that I am almost certain.

Here hoping Halligen opens that can of worms today! if he piches up in court that is.

Pennylane, I needed a smile today and I got it from your post - ta very much, well said!

Panda wrote:
The Mother has behaved disgracefully and deserves all she gets. What if the Girl was approached by some
pedophile and was niaive enought to go off with him???? They were staying at an Hotel which presumably had
a Pool and could have stayed drinking there while their daughter used the Pool and maybe made Friends with
other children in the Hotel.

As for the Mother swearing at the well meaning couple .......what can you say.!!!

Gerry"s "it was our holiday too" remark springs to mind.

Saint Kate apparently made an an equally obnoxious remark to a holidaying socially worker also....but Kate was after all a distraught mother running hither and zither searching frantically for her missing daughter, so we must excuse her building site language to a nosey social worker.

karen when iwas 11 mum let me and my siblings stay home for like 10 minutes when she dashed down the street theresa huge diffrence between 3 kids under 4 anda 11 year old 11 year olds can basically care for themselves in some ways it shows the diffrence between the mcanns with money and a normal mum IMO not that im saying this mum was right but you know what i mean im glad this mother has to face charges for her lack of responsibility

Justiceforallkids wrote:

pennylane wrote:This silly woman should have told everyone she was a British doctor who was checking on her daughter every half hour between drinks. She could be riding the crest of the wave by now!

doesnt portugal have a minimum 2 year sentence for child neglect if so why did the mcanns get away with leaving 3 kids under 4 alone when this mum with a 11 year old didnt i mean i know spain isnt portugal but you know what i mean

God knows Jfak.... the McCanns surrounded themselves with heavies, and managed to get one over on the law of the land.

There can be no doubt, even if you accept their story (which I personally don't believe a word of), they are guilty of neglect at the very least. Their enormous lies will eat them from the inside out, and though they may not be in jail - they are most certainly living a soul destroying, hellish existence (imo)

malena stool wrote:Saint Kate apparently made an an equally obnoxious remark to a holidaying socially worker also....but Kate was after all a distraught mother running hither and zither searching frantically for her missing daughter, so we must excuse her building site language to a nosey social worker.

I know you're being sarcastic but Kate did go running eventually ... up the hill with Gerry, when they timed themselves and did it in 19 minutes. These little details are important when you're searching for a child, maybe they thought they could eventually tell the world they'd searched 'up hill and down dale' and got fit in the process.

Getting back on topic - it still amazes me that anyone thinks it's all right to leave children unsupervised, trusting to luck they'll come to no harm. The fact that the McCanns and their friends weren't charged with any offence for leaving their very young children alone at night must IMO have led equally feckless people to think it's quite all right to do likewise, that even if something does happen to their children they won't be blamed but instead will be given sympathy and support and lots of money.

PS I wonder what Lorraine Kelly, etc. think of this latest case - that the mum is a wonderful, caring person who deserves everyone's support?

The McC's weren't shy in publicising their 'neglect' of Madeleine and the twins - and you do have to wonder why?

It's been mentioned many times that possibly whatever really happened to Madeleine was far worse that simply being left alone. To be charged with 'neglect' would have been the lesser punishment for them.

I'm sure in the early days it was also said that for them to be charged with neglect meant that if the police found evidence of foul play they could then not be charged with that - but I may be wrong.

Dimsie wrote:PS I wonder what Lorraine Kelly, etc. think of this latest case - that the mum is a wonderful, caring person who deserves everyone's support?

i think we all know the answer to that.

We all know the reputation young Brits abroad have for their drunken loutish behaviour, I have seen it for
myself. Must we now be tarred with the bad parenting brush ?

McCanns are getting a right bashin on this articles comments section. Lots of people questioning why they didn't get prosecuted for leaving three children alone! [b]

Ang wrote:McCanns are getting a right bashin on this articles comments section. Lots of people questioning why they didn't get prosecuted for leaving three children alone! [b]

Thanks for that, had to go and look, a small selection.....

- GrahamC, Dorset, 18/8/2010 7:58 et al

Erm ... I know I will get red arrowed for this, but the McCanns are both doctors who left their THREE small children alone on holiday whilst they went out eating and drinking - not all benefit mums are lousy - there are other middle calss parents just as bad - so don't jump to unjustified conclusions

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I don't condone this. Yet this woman was slated while the McCanns were hailed as saints.

- Mags, Telford, 18/8/2010 10:57


So why did the McCanns get away with it when they left Maddie alone to go drinking? Because they received the full backing off the British Government I guess!

- JK, U.K., 18/8/2010 10:50

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How come the McCanns didn't get same sentence?

- edouard dunnachie, carnwath scotland, 18/8/2010 11:39

Because they were middle class doctors - that's why.


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This story makes me so angry, why is she being treated like this just because she is a single parent.When the Mcanns left 3 children under 6 home alone at night to go out drinking while they were on holiday all they got was sympathy. This is because they are middle classed proffessionals the outcome of their wrong doing was much worse.No child should be left alone in a foriegn country.

- annette, London, 18/8/2010 10:17

This has embarressed our country. Her passport should be withdrawn. We are quick to complain anout foreigners on our soil. We need to look carefully at who we let travel abroad. We have inflicted the chav element of our society on the Med for too long. Spain and Greece have been extremely tolerant in accomodating these people. I do realise they earn from them, but surely there will come a point when they crack.

- chris, Newton le Willows, 18/8/2010 16:38


Strange isnt it..........the McCanns didnt get done for leaving their three kids alone did they?

- annie, tyneside, 18/8/2010 10:21
==

Under Spanish law parents who abandon their children face jail sentences of 18 months to three years. If the child is put in danger, it can be up to four years.

Pity it isnt the same under Portuguese law

Some high profile parents might have thought twice about leaving their children alone whilst they dined.

- Tiffany, London UK, 18/8/2010 11:10

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The McCanns got off because they were posh and this woman is a chav!
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Why did they not do the same to the McCanns?

Possibly because it was in a different country where Spanish laws do not apply i.e in Portugal.

Some may say of course that the social standing of the McCanns may have swayed any decision as to if they should have been punished.

- Jon, Cleveland, 18/8/2010 12:33

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The McCann's children were much younger when they were left alone whilst their parents went out drinking every night, and we all know the consequence of that.

- Holmes, London, 18/8/2010 12:15

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she would be ok in portugal

- bob, airdrie, 18/8/2010 11:15

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I could go on but the Mcs are getting a pasting! And l've only seen two comments where they believed another 'abduction' likes Maddies could ahve happened.

pennylane wrote:This silly woman should have told everyone she was a British doctor who was checking on her daughter every half hour between drinks. She could be riding the crest of the wave by now!

rep point!

Have taken a look at the worst rated comments and they include these gems, proof if it were needed that most people DO see through the Mcs lies. These people might have looked back attheir comments and can't understand why they've been given minus points!

Let's hope she's not on benefits! So far as bringing the McCanns into the story - I'm sure they deeply regret what happened and if they could turn the clock back they would - but it was not the same situation - they believed their children were safely nearby in bed - and most people know their child's sleeping habits - being checked on periodically, who could really envisage that some person would steal their child from their bed - now of course we are vigilant because of what happened. This child was left to roam about a holiday resort.

- beverly, london, 18/8/2010 13:34

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Don't be so ridiculous.

The McCanns left their children in what they thought was a secure apartment in a secure complex, and they were in the immediate vicinity. This stupid woman abandoned her child, who could have come to serious harm, not least sunburn, in what could be a dangerous environment.
- Samantha, Penarth, 18/8/2010 13:21

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To all the people leaving nasty comments about the McCanns, don't you think they have a life sentence? Stop being so heartless!!

- Clare, Birmingham, 18/8/2010 14:02


Come on, give the McCanns a break, this is a totally different situation. Just glad that this child is ok.

- pat, newcastle upon tyne, 18/8/2010 13:45

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No, it was TOTALLY different scenario. This was a drunk who abandoned her daughter to go drinking. The McCanns were people who thought their child was safe in bed. You want them to throw the book at them? Don't you think this poor couple have been punished enough?.

- Ray, Lancashire, 18/8/2010 13:45

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How come the McCanns didn't get same sentence?
- edouard dunnachie, carnwath scotland


I think most normal, compassionate people would say that the McCanns got a life sentence! It sure is a shame we can't all be as perfect as you.

- Paula, Warks, England, 18/8/2010 13:01
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Why are so many people comparing this to the McCann situation? They are entirely different - the McCann's were not drunk, they didn't leave their kids wandering around all afternoon. The children were asleep in their room. We know differently now of course, but at the time the McCanns thought their children were safely tucked up in bed, and they themselves were eating a meal less than 100 yards away. The McCann's made a bad error of judgement, this woman just went out on the lash and left her kid to it!

- Elizabeth, London, UK, 18/8/2010 12:34

Exactly the same scenario as the McCanns - leaving youngsters alone to go drinking - disgusting state of affairs. If they throw the book at her, which she deserves, then why don't they do the same to the McCanns??
- Ally, Wales, 18/8/2010 11:40


Not "exactly" the same. Maddie wasn't alone, she was with her siblings, and the McCanns didn't abandon her to go on a bender, they were only a few yards away. Just saying, but I get your point.

- Ess, Essex, 18/8/2010 12:40



NOT the same scenario as the McCanns. They were dining in the garden of their complex and making regular check ups on their children. Just as if they were dining in their own garden and the children were upstairs in bed!

- Momo, Valencia, Spain, 18/8/2010 13:08


Pinky would be proud of that one!!

Momo of Valencia is very well informed isn't he/she? Practically a direct Gerry quote. Hmmmm....

Thanks for pasting them in Margaret

Can't see why she hasn't been invited to an audience with the Pope and a slot on the Oprah Winfrey show.

oh dearie me.................excellent!

this woman should not have left her child alone in a foriegn country while she went to a bar. Likewise, a couple should not leave thier 3 children under 5 alone while they eat at a nearby resturant.

This woman should have been charged, so should all parents who leave thier children alone while they go out to enjoy themselves.

How they paid for the holiday should have nothng to do with what happens to the parents. Except that, as we all know, it does.
- lynn, maidstone, 18/8/2010 11:48

I think the world has gone nuts. Eleven is quite old enough to care for themselves. When I was eleven and even younger my friends and I went to the beach and stayed all day. No parents around or any adult supervision.

My mother started back to work when I was eight and my sister and I stayed on our own without any babysitters.

I wonder if they read the comments but then again they probably read everything. It must come as a blow when stories like this one come to light and get in the press. They may be still walking the streets but they will never ever be free. People will continue to draw comparisons for the rest of McCanns lives. If they had been prosecuted it would have been long forgotten by now. Living hell for them really - all self inflicted and following the money of course.