A couple from the UK has been arrested for reportedly abandoning their three young children at a hotel in Costa del Sol while they went out partying. The youngest child, a six-month-old baby, tested positive for cocaine, leading to the arrest of the parents.
The children, aged four, two, and six months, were placed under temporary care by social services after being found in a concerning state at the hotel. The authorities described the situation as worrisome, with the children left unsupervised in a messy room, forcing the eldest child to take care of the younger siblings.
The regional government has taken custody of the children, who were subsequently taken to Malaga’s Materno Infantil Hospital for a medical evaluation. The hotel’s name where the incident occurred in Benalmadena has not been disclosed.
The National Police of Spain reported that a 41-year-old British man and a 28-year-old woman were detained on suspicion of child abandonment. Specialized units are involved in the case, with social services taking temporary charge of the children.
The couple was apprehended in the early hours of Thursday, and they are expected to remain in police custody overnight before appearing in court for an initial hearing. Details about the specific hotel complex where they stayed were revealed by a reliable source.
While police did not confirm reports about the baby testing positive for cocaine, the couple’s situation is being closely monitored. They are likely to face legal proceedings following their arrest.