A FOUR-year-old boy was found wandering half-naked in the street after his mum left him home alone so she could make up with her lover in a nightclub.

The 24-year-old, who cannot be named for fear of identifying the child, even lied to police, telling them she had been drugged and raped, to throw them off the scent when they caught her.

The shivering tot, found wandering through Warndon Villages in January, was clad in just a jumper when a passer-by stopped to help him.

His mum had sneaked out of their flat almost 24 hours earlier, dumping him in his bedroom and telling him to stay put, Worcester magistrates heard.

"It was 3.50pm on January 23 and a lady was walking home in Warndon Villages," said Suzanne Llewellyn, prosecuting.

"She saw the child in a doorway to a block of flats. He appeared upset and was crying.

"He said his mother had gone to town, put him in his bedroom and told him to stay.

"The woman couldn't find any way of contacting the mother, so she left a note and took the child home."

Two-hour wait for contact

The court heard she called the police when she had not been contacted after two hours.

"At 7pm the mother turned up," said Miss Llewellyn, prosecuting.

"Officers were at her address when she got back. She said she had been to Le Mango with some friends.

"She thought her drink had been spiked and that was why she hadn't returned.

"She believed she was suffering from the effects of the date rape drug Rohypnol and was attacked on the way home."

She later admitted she had made up the story as she feared her ex-husband would discover she was in a new relationship.

"She told police she agreed to meet her boyfriend as she was afraid he would leave her," said Miss Llewellyn.

The woman admitted child cruelty.

"Steps have been taken to ensure the boy's welfare," said Barry Newton, defending.

Magistrates adjourned for a pre-sentence report on Tuesday, July 30.