The nation was shocked this week that a Dartford mother
abandoned her six-year-old child for five days.

Her case might have been quietly swept under the carpet
- until a Kent Messenger reporter successfully asked a judge
to lift a ban from naming Natalie Terry, 28.

It revealed she lived in one of worst
wards for poverty in north Kent.

Her home in Williow Road is in Princes Ward, one of the 10 most
deprived in north Kent for child poverty, according to a survey
published at the same time.

But it was by no means the worst.

There are other wards with greater poverty problems in Dartford
- and Gravesham and particularly in nearby Swanley where one in
three children are living on the edge.

In all more than 6,000 children in north Kent live below the
poverty line 200 years after Charles Dickens wrote about the
problem.

In the 21st century, Ms Terry was an exception.

The vast majority of parents put their children first.

The surveyors found evidence of that.

A Child Proverty Action Group spokesman said parents were going
without meals so that they could buy warm clothes for their
children.

Other youngsters are unaware of their sacrifices, but parents
give up essentials so that their children can enjoy cult things
their friends enjoy like computer games and trainers,

"Families struggle to meet basic needs like food, heating,
transport, clothing and the extra costs of schooling like equipment
and trips," said the spokesman.

"After housing costs, all the household bills and family’s
spending needs will need to be met by around £12 or less per family
member per day. For many families, especially those reliant on out
of work benefits, it can be substantially less."

Cllr Jeremy Kite (Con), leader of Dartford council, said: "It
would be crazy to say that we as a council could solve the
problem.

"It comes down to the economic success of the country. A lot of
families are suffering out there."

Cllr John Burden (Lab), Gravesham council leader, said KCC
needed to maintain social services.

"Support and youth services are so important where we have high
levels of deprivation and need," he said.

The detective who investigated Ms Terry was DC Fleur Hardie.

Welcoming the 18-month sentence, she said: "We will do
everything in our power to bring such offenders to justice and work
with Social Services to protect children."

The Child Poverty Action Group spokesman said: "Whether you live
in an urban area of concentrated child poverty where it is a common
and visible problem, or a wealthy rural area where it may be
unspoken and unseen, child poverty will be present in your
community to some degree."

The report said: "The poverty line means that, after housing
costs, all the household bills and family’s spending needs will be
met by around £12 or less for each family member each day.

"For many families, especially those reliant on out-of-work
benefits, it can be substantially less."

Investigating officer from Kent Police, DC Fleur Hardie
comments: "Children deserve to grow up in a loving environment
where they are protected from harm, not subjected to it. I am
pleased with this sentence, which shows that we will do everything
in our power to bring such offenders to justice and work with
Social Services to protect children."