You should never take care of a child again, judge tells woman jailed for

A mother who tortured and neglected her 21-month-old son, contributing to his death, was jailed for nine years yesterday and told by a judge she should never again have children under her control.

Mr Justice Frank Stock also expressed concern about the woman's boyfriend and called for an urgent inquiry into the circumstances in which his five-year-old daughter is living.

Lam Wai-man, 22, who admitted manslaughter and cruelty in relation to her son, Cheung Lap-ying, wept in the dock as the judge sentenced her.

Her boyfriend, Tsoi Chi-kin, 23, who was not the father of Lap-ying, was originally charged with the child's murder.

But allegations against him were withdrawn at an early stage because of a lack of evidence.

Sentencing Lam, Mr Justice Stock said: 'I am duty-bound to express my concern about the prospect of this defendant ever being placed in a position of care over children and also concern about the boyfriend to whom reference has been made in the same context.

'It seems to me that this defendant should never again have care or control of a child.' The judge said he had no power to order that Lam be prevented from caring for children in the future.