A DRUNK dad wandered off from his toddler several times before leaving her in the company of strangers at a Glasgow Subway station.

The 34-year-old man was so intoxicated that he got on a train at Govan with the intention of going to Partick but he completed the full circle of 15 stops and ended up at Govan again. 

When he was on the train at around 10.30pm on May 24, 2022, passengers saw him in the company of a three-year-old girl, who only had one shoe on.

The man, who is not being named to protect the identity of the child, left her unattended on several occasions to walk around the train.

Three passengers were so concerned that they remained on the train for the full duration.

At around 11pm, he departed the train at Govan. The passengers approached the girl and walked down the platform with her whilst her dad followed behind.

Glasgow Times:

They walked her out of the station and called police.

The dad did not show any concern that his child was in the company of three strangers.

When officers arrived, they noted the toddler to be safe and well in the company of the strangers.

Meanwhile, her dad was found nearby at the bus station.

He told cops he was trying to get to Partick, and they described him as being unsteady on his feet and slurring his speech.

The girl was taken to her mum’s home – where she usually lives – and no concerns were raised.

The man appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court for sentencing last week.

Court papers state he did wilfully neglect and expose the child in a manner likely to cause her unnecessary suffering or injury to health and did become intoxicated whilst looking after her, repeatedly leaving her unattended on a Subway train.

His lawyer said: “At the time of the incident he hadn’t seen his child for months and the mother turned up at the door and said, ‘you need to look after her’. He had been drinking and advised her of that, but she insisted the child stayed with him.

“The matter was referred to social work. They were satisfied that the child was being cared for properly.”

The defence solicitor advised that his client had “taken steps to do something about his drinking”.

He added: “He’s not had a drink for five months.

“He recognises how serious this is. He is fit to do unpaid work.”

Sheriff Diana McConnell said: “This matter occurred two years ago, and things have moved on considerably.”

She ordered him to carry out 75 hours of unpaid work.