Whyalla mother Shay Bilney avoids jail for horrific criminal neglect of 18-month-old daughter

An SA mother has walked free after her 18-month-old daughter was left in the same nappy for four days, causing horrific skin injuries.

Shay Ellen Bilney has been charged with criminal neglect . Picture: Supplied

A young mother has walked free after her 18-month-old daughter was found sitting in her own faeces and maggots in her four-day-old nappy.

Shay Bilney, 26, was told her actions were “inexcusable” after her daughter suffered horrific injuries to her skin and was left in significant pain.

During sentencing, the District Court heard the child was found in urine-soaked pyjamas, with the victim suffering from a nappy rash.

Bilney agreed to take her daughter to the doctor and no action was taken at the time.

Shay Ellen Bilney pleaded guilty to criminal neglect. Picture: Supplied

She was handed a suspended sentence. Picture: Supplied

The court heard Bilney’s uncle then attended her house on July 13, 2023 to check on her children.

“The house was dirty and there was no food,” Judge Michelle Sutcliffe said.

“Your daughter had severe nappy rash to her groin, inner legs, and lower back.”

Bilney’s uncle treated it with nappy rash cream before returning the children to her care on July 17.

Four days later, Bilney called her uncle and said: ‘’You better come and get these f***ing kids because I can’t be f***ed getting up for them”.

The court heard Bilney’s uncle came to the house and found the children sitting on a dirty couch with a “strong smell of urine and faeces”.

“Your daughter appeared to be wearing the same nappy she was in four days earlier,” Judge Sutcliffe said.

Bilney’s uncle removed the victim’s pants which were full of faeces from the waist down, with her nappy appearing to have maggots in it.

The victim’s skin from her toes to her groin were blistered and there were areas of peeling skin on both legs, consistent with being in contact with urine for a long time.

“When she arrived at the hospital she appeared to be in distress,” Judge Sutcliffe said.

“The skin changes were so severe that (the victim) was at significant risk of secondary infection without medical attention.”

A search of Bilney’s house uncovered baby bottles with spoiled milk in them, an ice pipe and a “small bag of a crystalline substance” in her bedroom.

“There was no designated sleeping area for the children, and it appeared they had been sleeping on the couch,” Judge Sutcliffe said.

Bilney, of Whyalla, pleaded guilty to criminal neglect.

The court heard Bilney had relapsed into methamphetamine use at the time of the offending and the care of her children deteriorated.

Judge Sutcliffe said Bilney’s actions were inexcusable and her daughter had suffered horrific injury to her skin as a result.

“On the children being returned to you, you then deprived your daughter of the most basic nappy care, leaving her to sit in her nappy,” she said.

However, Judge Sutcliffe noted that Bilney made the call for help and if she hadn’t her daughter’s condition may have been much worse.

Bilney was sentenced to six months’ jail, which was suspended on a two-year-good behaviour bond.

Originally published as Whyalla mother Shay Bilney avoids jail for horrific criminal neglect of 18-month-old daughter