Home Top

Banker celebrates creating his own $20billlion company by buying and TEARING DOWN the $43million Hamptons mansion of his former Goldman Sachs boss who refused to promote him
'It ain't over until it's over': Legendary New York Yankees player Yogi Berra and inspiration behind popular bear cartoon dies aged 90
Revealed: The FBI 'has recovered secret emails deleted from Hillary Clinton's private computer server'
Chinese jet nearly collides with American spy plane gathering intelligence off China's coast in dangerous mid-air interception
What would Jesus have been driven in? Dwarfed by massive secret service SUVs, Pope Francis is a big man in a little car as he's driven away in a tiny Fiat 500 after arriving in the U.S.
Pope spent awkward minutes waiting at the open door of his plane as Obama crossed the tarmac - but it was all because of protocol, White House say
Huckabee blasts White House's guest list for the Pope as 'politicized cattle call' as ex-nun sacked from Catholic school for her lesbian marriage is latest invitee
Jeb Bush says Pope is reminder of need for 'religious freedom' in coded attack on Obama
First daughters Sasha and Malia Obama skip classes to meet Pope Francis
The Pontiff and the President: Pope Francis arrives in America for the first time ever to a greeting from the entire First Family
I ain't talkin' to you, darling! 'Condescending' Robert De Niro walks out of interview about his latest film The Intern after taking offense at reporter's questions
PIERS MORGAN: If Robert De Niro wants to be treated like the genius he still thinks he is, he should try making his first decent movie for two decades
Dog the Bounty Hunter's stepdaughter is arrested for 'robbing a bank' as he admits his family's heartbreak at her 'life of crime'
Scientists to use wireless sensors to spy on fat families as America's obesity crisis reaches epidemic proportions
Bling Ring leader Nick Prugo back behind bars as he's charged in plot to solicit the RAPE of a woman who befriended him after his prison release
'She caused pain I never knew existed': Mother writes heartbreaking open letter a year after drunk-driver killed husband and baby son in car crash
Judge rules 'Happy Birthday' IS in the public domain: Music company that has been collecting royalties for years does not own the copyright to lyrics
Could YOU spot a cheater? Study finds men can tell which women are more likely to have affairs just by looking at their faces
Dramatic moment Israeli soldier pointed his rifle at veiled Palestinian student... who was shot dead moments later for attempting to stab a checkpoint guard
Sean Penn sues director Lee Daniels for $10million for likening him to wife-beater Terrence Howard
Transgender woman details ordeal TSA put her through after she went through the female line and the bodyscanner picked up her 'anomaly'
US General denies there is a policy to ignore the sexual abuse of little boys in Afghanistan after a marine was gunned down by teen 'being kept as a sex slave by the local police chief'
Rapper boyfriend who 'murdered Morgan Freeman's granddaughter in violent rage' pleads not guilty to charges as prosecutors say she was stabbed 25 times
Blackmail selfie? Be my guest: Bed photo of NHL star, 43, who told 18-year-old model 'who tried to extort him' that he couldn't care less becomes an instant meme

Do YOU leave your children in the car while you run errands? Rachel Stevens divides opinion among parents after leaving her two young daughters alone in vehicle for 10 minutes while she dashed to shop

By Sam Matthew for MailOnline and Mailonline Reporter

Published: 17:56 EST, 20 September 2015 | Updated: 01:51 EST, 23 September 2015

1.7k

View
comments

Rachel Stevens has sparked controversy after she is alleged to have left her two daughters alone in her car while she ran errands.

The S Club 7 singer was reported to have parked in north London and then walked to the shops, leaving 18-month-old Minnie Blossom and Amelia, four, inside the vehicle.

The singer and former Strictly Come Dancing has divided parents on her decision to reportedly leave her children unattended for around 10 minutes.

Scroll down for video

Alone: Rachel Stevens was seen leaving her two young daughters - aged four and 18-months - alone in her car for around 10 minutes last week

Even Jo Frost, who found fame as Supernanny, has waded in and described Steven's parenting choice as 'not a smart one,' but said she was fed up of celebrities being 'publicly shamed.'

Others on Twitter were also quick to jump to the defence of the mother-of-two, calling for critics to 'get a grip' and stating, 'we've all done this.'

But some branded Stevens 'totally irresponsible' and said it was 'no good thinking 'just 10 minutes.''

While some may not agree with the star's decision, it is not illegal to leave a child alone in the car.

The Government website states that it is down to individual parent choice.

Advice reads: 'The law doesn't say an age when you can leave a child on their own, but it's an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk.

'Use your judgement on how mature your child is before you decide to leave them alone, eg at home or in a car.'

Research published just last month, revealed that one in four parents admitted to leaving their children alone in the car.

Of the 2,000 parents surveyed, the average said they did not return for 22 minutes, according to Kwik Fit Insurance Services, who conducted the probe.

But last year the Daily Mail reported how Tim Haines was convicted of child neglect after leaving his two-year-old daughter alone in a car for five minutes while he popped in to buy Calpol from a chemist.

The 50-year-old family law advocate faced an agonising year-long battle to stop his five children being taken into care, before his conviction was finally overturned on appeal.

Leading child behaviour expert Richard Curtis, known as The Kid Calmer, says 'Rachel Stevens' decision was based on what she thought best at the time.

'It is easy for others to look on and judge, however this is happening in cars around the world every single day.

'The debate should be wider than one celebrity, it should be a conversation all parents are having and stricter guidelines must be put in place.'

Stevens was said to have been pictured last week at around 12.30pm parking up.

The star - who rose to fame in the seven-piece pop group in the late 1990s - looked casual in a pair of rolled-up jeans, trainers and a mid-length black coat.

Tv nanny Jo Frost waded into the debate and described the singer's parenting choice as 'not a smart one'

She carried a rucksack over her shoulder for the outing.

Onlookers told the Sunday Mirror that they were 'surprised' by the S Club 7 singer's actions.

Eye-witness said the 37-year-old was only away from the vehicle for round 10 minutes and was seen waving to her girls as she made her way back to them, the newspaper reported.

'At first I didn't realise they were in the car on their own or how young one of them was but when I did it was quite shocking,' one witness told the Sunday Mirror.

Shock: Onlookers were said to be surprised that the S Club 7 singer had left her youngsters unaided while she ran errands in north London

Casual: The star, 37, was easily spotted as she went about her day in rolled-up jeans, trainers and in a coat

Siblings: Amelie, the eldest of the two, was sat in the front seat of the car and turning around to speak to her toddler sister in the backseat

Looking after her little sister: The little girl, wearing a striped top, was seen turning to face the younger

Where's mummy? Amelie - Rachel's first daughter with husband Alex Bourne - stood up on the front passenger seat as she looked out of the car

Mum's back: Rachel was seen returning to the car after 10 minutes, at around 12.40pm

They're OK: The two girls were fine as they were reunited with their parent

'I suppose I think about the worst-case scenario but what if they took off the handbrake or managed to get out of the car? Or if someone managed to get in?'

Amelie, the eldest of the two, was sat in the front seat of the car and turning around to speak to her toddler sister in the backseat.

The TV nanny Frost discussed the issue on her Twitter account, writing: 'I'm sure MsRachelStevens is now aware that her parenting choice was not a smart one but ..truly so fed up with celebs being publicly shamed.'

She continued: 'It's the tone of this public parenting police I don't like, Stones and glass houses. Lets teach,love and educate.'

Others joined in the debate.

Mrs Mills said of the star: 'is that all, I'm sure we've all done it, there's a lot worse she could have done, leave her alone!

Angie Deane ‏added: 'so sick of this sandstorm of @MsRachelStevens leaving her kids d for 10mins, get a grip folks weve all done this.'

Stevens decision received a mixed reaction on Twitter, with some calling the star 'totally irresponsible.' Others called for critics of the star to 'get a grip' and stated, 'we've all done this'

Stevens has not commented on the furore on her own Twitter account.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Rachel Stevens and is awaiting comment.

Stevens recently finished filming the latest series of The Voice of Ireland on which she made her debut as a coach alongside The Saturdays star Una Foden, former Westlife boy Kian Egan and Irish musician Bressie.

She has since set her sights on filling Rita Ora's shoes on The Voice UK after she jumped ship to ITV for the 2015 series of The X Factor.

'I am definitely the best person to take over Rita Ora on The Voice UK, I loved every minute of The Voice of Ireland. If they called I would be there,' she told OK! last month.

Stevens gave birth to her youngest child Minnie in April last year.

She is married to Alex Bourne and the couple also have four-year-old daughter Amelie together.

Although she is content with her two daughters, the brunette pin-up has not ruled out adding to her brood in the future.

'In a few years' time, I might think I'd love to try again. I do love having girls – boys are gorgeous too but I'm so happy they have each other,' she said in an interview with OK! Magazine earlier this year.

Busy bee: Rachel - who rose to fame with S Club 7 in the late 1990s - has been busy working on The Voice Ireland and reunited with the pop group last year