Pictured: Father and his five-year-old son who were found dead
EXCLUSIVE – Pictured: Father and his five-year-old son who were found dead after the little boy’s mother won custody of him
- Body of Lee Borrett, 41, found alongside that of his young son Timmy on Monday
A man and child found dead in a house in Leicester were a father and his five-year-old son who he had just lost custody of.
The body of Lee Borrett, 41, was found alongside that of his young son Timmy on Monday night. The cause of their deaths is still unclear. Timmy’s mother, Veronica, collapsed in the street after hearing the tragic news.
She had raced to her former home in Leicester at 8.30pm after her estranged partner, Borrett, failed to return Timmy – whose real name was Timotei – back to her as arranged.
The two bodies were discovered when Borrett’s housemate returned from work.
It is understood Timmy’s mother had won full custody of him last week. He had previously been living predominantly with Borrett.
The body of Lee Borrett, 41 was found alongside that of his five-year-old son Timmy on Monday night. They are seen together in this image while Timmy was a baby
Timmy’s mother, Veronica, collapsed in the street after hearing the tragic news. She is seen with Timmy as a toddler
Neighbour Carole Potter, 70, who watched the incident unfold, said: ‘The mum Veronica went in and I heard a scream and then she came out and just collapsed in a heap on the floor.
‘Her boyfriend was trying to comfort her. I did not know what had happened. I just hoped against hope that the little boy was safe.’
Minutes earlier, Ms Potter had let Veronica into her home to look over the garden fence for clues as to what had happened.
She said: ‘I knew that Timmy was with Lee for the day. About 5.30pm I heard the little boy screaming but it was like hysterical laughter rather than anything to worry about.
‘The next thing I heard was Veronica bashing on the door and shouting at about 8.30pm.’
Ms Potter said the couple had split up two years ago.
Timmy stayed with his father while his mother, whose family come from Slovakia, went to live with a new boyfriend in the village of Earl Shilton.
She said: ‘I got on very well with Veronica. It was like having another daughter. She is so nice. I spoke to her first when she came home from hospital with the baby.
‘When they split up he kept the little boy but she would get to see him regularly.
‘She always brought him back on time. Then recently she told me that she had got full custody.’
Officers found the pair unconscious after being called to the address on Hopyard Close in the south of the city at 9pm yesterday
Before becoming a full-time parent to his son, Borrett had worked on an industrial estate near Rugby, Ms Potter said.
‘Since he got the boy he’s not worked,’ said Carole. ‘The little boy was lovely.
‘I would see him come home from school and he’d want to talk about his day but the dad always pushed him inside.
‘I just can’t believe what has happened. You never expect something like this on your doorstep.
‘To be honest, it has broken my heart. I will never forget it for the rest of my life.’
Last night, forensics officers were seen going in and out of the terraced home this evening and checking the black wheelie bin for any clues.
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: ‘When we saw all the police arriving last night we knew something serious must have happened.
‘We did not know the family, just that there were two guys living there and occasionally a little boy.’
The bodies were found by police on Monday at a property in Hopyard Close, Leicester
Neighbour Alan Potter, 75, said: ‘Timmy was a lovely little boy and my wife and I both liked his mum Veronika.
‘I heard him running around yesterday afternoon and I heard him give what sounded like an excited scream about 5.30pm. I thought his mother must have arrived because he loved his Mum so much.’
Leicestershire Police is carrying out an investigation into the deaths, but officers are not looking for anyone else at this stage.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit major crime team, said yesterday: ‘Following the tragic news that a child and a man have died, detectives are working to understand what happened inside the address last night.
‘I understand this incident will raise many questions but our investigation is currently in it’s very early stages.
‘I can reassure people that there is no risk to the public and at this time we do not believe anyone else was involved in the incident.
‘Families of the two deceased are being supported by officers at this very difficult time.’
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