The Youth Court heard that the 17-year-old, who could barely speak any English, had been treated ‘abysmally’ by her family.
An investigation into allegations of neglect by the parents had been dropped by police on 14 February, the court heard.
Youth Court panel chairman Bridget Shaw said that she was ‘astounded’ that the daughter and Children’s Services had not been informed of the dropping of the case until late March.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named to protect her identity, was in the Youth Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for larceny offences. It was then that the details of her ‘very sad’ background were revealed.
