PARENTS who binged on alcohol as their baby boy lay dying have been jailed for neglecting him.

Preston Crown Court heard Matthew Atherton and Anne Turnbull held an all-night party while their son, four-month-old Liam Atherton, succumbed to the effects of pneumonia.

Turnbull admitted neglecting her baby and Judge Christopher Cornwall sentenced her to 21 months behind bars.

Her partner denied the charges and went on trial, but part way through the case, changed his plea.

Atherton, 23, was yesterday jailed for two years.

The pair, both of Leicester Road, Blackburn, each admitted a charge of child neglect between January 12, 2011 and January 14, 2011.

The court heard an investigation was launched by police after they were notified of baby Liam's sudden death by a sister at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The youngster had been brought into hospital by paramedics after Turnbull discovered Liam’s lifeless body in his moses basket around 11.15am on January 13, prosecutors said.

Despite the medics’ best efforts the little boy was pronounced dead a short time later.

A post-mortem examination at the time did not reveal any significant injuries and it was found he had died from pneumonia.

The court heard blood tests ordered by the police showed Atherton was three times the drink drive limit at the time four-month-old Liam stopped breathing.

The pair had been up until 7am drinking large amounts of lager, whisky and wine, prosecutors said.

During a search of the family home police found a wheelie bin full of empty lager cans and wine bottles.

When the party was in full flow, prosecutors said Anne Turnbull invited her sister Zoe Heap and her partner to visit the house.

As they arrived, the couple discovered the front room where Liam was sleeping was cold, because the back door had been left open to allow cigarette smoke to filter out, the court heard.

Miss Heap became angry after noticing Liam had been left hungry and in wet nappy, prosecutors said.

Taking charge, Miss Heap changed Liam and fed him and then passed him to her partner for him to settle, the court heard.

It was then that Liam suffered what has been described as a ‘fit or seizure’.

Turnbull and Atherton refused to call an ambulance despite being encouraged by Miss Heap and her partner.

DS Sarah Hargreaves, of Blackburn police public protection unit, said: “I am delighted with the end conclusion which has been the result of a protracted and sensitive inquiry.”