A MOTHER told her young son his babysitter was in the house and then left him home alone, a court heard yesterday.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the seven-year-old not to disturb the babysitter because she was revising and then went out with friends.

He was locked into the house in Northallerton, and police had to get in through a window.

Yesterday, his 27-year-old mother appeared before Northallerton Magistrates' Court where she admitted one charge of neglect.

Counsel for the prosecution, Robert Galley, told the court that neighbours had become concerned about who was looking after the boy on April 20 when they saw his mother going out at 8pm.

They spoke to him through the door and then called police. The woman did not return until the next morning.

In interviews with police, the boy said he had been told not to talk to another babysitter because his toys would be taken away and he would be grounded.

He has now been taken into foster care.

Harvey Murray, in mitigation, said the woman had arranged for a friend to babysit, but she had not turned up.

"She fully believed that the babysitter would come," he said.

"In the evidence, it is quite apparent that when the defendant returned home that morning she was absolutely shocked and appalled to learn that the babysitter hadn't turned up and the boy had been left alone at home."

Magistrates adjourned the case until January 6 for pre-sentence reports.