A tragic incident took place at Crab Fold Farm in Atherton, involving a two-year-old girl named Masie Lomax-Newton. While her mother and grandmother tended to horses, Masie explored alone and accidentally fell into a pond.

The incident occurred on November 8, 2021. CCTV footage showed the unsupervised child playing near the pond, which had compromised fencing. Sadly, Masie was found after being submerged for 19 minutes. Despite immediate medical attention, she passed away on December 1 due to complications from drowning.

The Manchester Crown Court heard that both her mother, Emma Lomax-Newton, and grandmother, Cindy Molyneux, had pleaded guilty to child neglect charges. The court acknowledged the oversight was unintentional, emphasizing the human propensity for error.

Judge Nicholas Dean stated, "What happened here could have happened to almost any mother or grandmother, even the most caring and careful." He added that the tragedy stemmed from "unconscious complacency".

Both Lomax-Newton and Molyneux received a 12-month community order and must attend 15 rehabilitation activity days.