Fury as holiday mother leaves 5 children

NEIGHBOURS today spoke of their "disgust" after a mother jetted off on holiday with her new boyfriend leaving her five young children behind.

A local childminder is looking after the youngsters, aged four to 13, but refused to say whether their mother Kim Marshman was coming home.

Police were contacted after neighbours complained that the 34- year-old single mother had left the children at their council semi in Ham, Richmond.

They said she had bought a one-way ticket to the Canary Islands for a holiday with a man she met through an internet chatroom eight weeks ago. One neighbour said: "She is a very selfish woman with no sense of responsibility.

If she wants her freedom, she just goes. Five years ago, she went off on holiday without the children and just left them with a local woman. Another time, she was away for two days."

Another neighbour said: "Kim is apparently taken with her new man but he didn't want anything to do with her kids.

She was lonely and it looks as if she has done this for him. It is unforgivable." A man who lives opposite Ms Marshman added: "I am very surprised because I never see Kim without her children. Speaking as a father, I think it's disgusting."

The alarm was raised last Monday when the eldest child, a 13-year- old boy, told teachers he could not come to school because he had to look after his brothers and sisters. It is understood their mother had flown to the Canary Islands that weekend. The five had been left with just pounds 20 and a note asking childminder Lisa Baverstock to look after them until she returned.

Ms Baverstock, of nearby Sheridan Road, said the children were "all right" and in her care. A spokesman for Richmond Social Services said: "The children are being safely cared for by a friend who knows the mother. We will today review their care in consultation with the police."

Scotland Yard said: "Feltham Child Protection Team are investigating an allegation of neglect of five children at an address in Ham."

Police are expected to arrest Ms Marshman if and when she returns home in connection with a possible child-neglect offence.

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