FRANCE, Jan 24: In a recent legal development, a mother in France has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for abandoning her 9-year-old child, as reported by CNN affiliate BFMTV. The distressing case unfolded in the town of Nersac in the Charente region, where the child was left to live alone in the family's apartment for an alarming duration of two years, spanning from 2020 to 2022.

BFMTV's report outlined the child's survival during this period, primarily relying on a diet of cake, canned goods, and stolen tomatoes. Shockingly, the child's mother resided in a separate apartment approximately five kilometers (3.1 miles) away with her partner, making only sporadic visits to the child.

Barbara Couturier, the Mayor of Nersac, expressed deep concern about the child's living conditions, revealing that hot water and heating were often unavailable in the family apartment. Despite these hardships, the child remarkably continued attending school, maintaining a commendable academic record, according to Couturier.

The alarming situation came to light when the child's mother sought assistance from social services to purchase food. Couturier grew suspicious when the mother opted for processed food products with the provided vouchers. Residents in the area informed Couturier about a child living alone, prompting her to take immediate action by alerting both local and national police.

"I met his mom in May 2022. She came to tell us that she had financial problems, and we gave her four vouchers for food, but she took some processed food products instead, so that made me suspicious. Some residents told me that a child was living alone, so I connected the two things, and I called the local police and the national police," explained Couturier.

As a result of the intervention, the child has been under the care of social services since September 19, 2022. The case sheds light on the importance of community awareness and prompt action to safeguard the well-being of vulnerable individuals.