Officer discovered toddler found walking alone to school because 'She can’t wake mummy up’

Mirror UK reported that the off-duty officer, who has not been named, was driving with his wife when he spotted the toddler in Shobnall, Burton upon Trent.

He approached her to ask her where she was going and she replied: “I am going to nursery. I can’t wake mummy up.”

The girl then led him back to her home in Shobnall Road, where her mum, Nicolla Rushton, 30, was discovered dead.

Chief Inspector Steve Maskrey, from Staffordshire Police, has since praised his officer and said his actions showed police “are never off duty.”

He said: “This is a brilliant piece of work by him that shows that we are never off duty. The officer and his wife took the time to look after the little girl and stay with her until emergency services arrived.

“My thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased at this difficult time.

"The little girl is now safe with family."

Speaking outside her house, Nicolla's brother Anthony Rushton, 28, said: "The family just needs time to grieve at the moment.

"My mum is absolutely heartbroken and it's too much to talk about at the moment."

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