A COUPLE whose baby son drowned in the bath while they were downstairs at their home in Tenbury Wells have been found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence.

Wayne Dale, aged 44, and 28-year-old Lisa Passey face jail sentences after a jury of seven men and five women found them both guilty after a two-week trial at Worcester Crown Court.

The couple have since separated and sat apart in the dock without speaking to one another.

Judge Robert Juckes, QC, told them he had considered remanding them straight into custody but had decided to grant them bail for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

The jury had been told that baby Kian, who was 13 months old, died in the bath at the home the former couple shared at Kyreside, Tenbury Wells, on the evening of Saturday, September 26, 2015.

Dale, now living at an address in Malvern, left his son in a bath seat when a friend, Jeanette Morgan, visited the house.

While downstairs, he burned a CD of UB40 at Ms Morgan’s request. Evidence showed his laptop had been in use between 5.33pm and 5.46pm, though not who had been using it.

When he went back upstairs he found his son submerged in the bath, scooped him out and ran downstairs screaming.

An air ambulance took Kian to Birmingham Children's Hospital but all efforts at resuscitation failed and he was pronounced dead at 8.17pm.

He told the jury he had thought Passey had gone upstairs to take over the bath-time.

Passey, of Kyreside, said she had run the bath but denied at any stage taking over the bathing of their son from Dale.

The court heard that Dale, a father of seven, had 14 previous convictions for 38 offences dating back to 1989 and had previously been jailed for burglary.

Rachel Brand, QC, for Passey said she was only allowed to see her other two children under supervision and "would be grateful for the opportunity to tell them she might not be able to see them for a while."

Passey was said to have cautions but no previous convictions or experience of custody. Following a flood at the house in Kyreside, she has now made temporary arrangements for accommodation.

The jury retired early on Friday afternoon before resuming their deliberations for a further two hours following a weekend break. Judge Juckes thanked them for their efforts on a "difficult" case.

Sentencing was adjourned until April 25.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “It beggars belief that parents would leave a 13-month-old child alone in the bath for so long.

“This tragic case shows how vital it is for parents to be aware of the dangers of leaving young children on their own in certain situations.

“It is up to them to assess each scenario and ensure their child will be safe. The NSPCC website includes advice on when it is appropriate to leave children alone, and anyone concerned about a child can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.”