A YOUNG mother whose husband killed one of her twin sons and injured the other has admitted neglecting the boys.

Georgina Shackleton, 24, formerly of Bar Street, Burnley, changed her plea and spoke only to confirm her name and answer "guilty" to the charges of neglecting her 16-month-old sons Jack and Adam Shackleton when she appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

Her husband Glenn Shackleton, 27, is serving a seven year prison sentence after admitting the manslaughter of Jack and cruelty to the tot and his twin brother.

When he was spoken to by police after the tragedy he said he was alone looking after the children and had drunk two cans of strong lager, taken some methadone and injected himself with heroin during the course of the evening.

The couple, who had five children, moved to Burnley from Blackburn about three years ago and lived in Abel Street for 18 months before moving to Bar Street where little Jack was to lose his life.

Georgina, who has been living at Sherwood Road, Blackburn since the tragedy, originally pleaded not guilty to neglecting her sons. She will be sentenced next month and has been ordered not to enter Burnley.

Jack died from a head injury apparently caused by shaking, while a pathologist found 49 separate areas of bruising or abrasions to his body, either recent or older.

When Jack's brother Adam was examined he was found to have bruising, large abrasions and a broken rib that may have followed rough handling. Social Services had originally removed the youngsters from the parents' care, but following assessments Jack, Adam and their baby sister Natasha were returned to them in February last year - just six weeks before Jack's death.

Heroin addict Glenn Shackleton called 999 at 2am on April 16, 1999.

He said he had been feeding his daughter Natasha when the twins started crying.

He said it was when he was carrying the twins downstairs that Jack slipped out of his hands.

Ambulancemen found Jack lying on the living room floor and there were no signs of life. They tried to revive the toddler but he was dead on arrival at Burnley General Hospital.

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