A WOMAN has been convicted of killing her son in Acton.

Olga Freeman, 40, of Cumberland Park, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey yesterday, January 25, to the manslaughter of 10-year-old Dylan Freeman, by reason of diminished responsibility.

In the early hours of August 16 2020, Freeman attended Acton Police Station and stated that she had given her son some pills and pushed a sponge into his mouth.

Officers attended the home at around 02:16hrs and found Dylan unresponsive.

The ambulance was called and he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Freeman was arrested an hour later on suspicion of murder.

A post-mortem examination was conducted two days later and it recorded a provisional cause of death as upper airway obstruction by a foreign body.

The court heard that the victim suffered from extensive mental and physical health issues, which impacted his independence and his ability to communicate.

His mother had cared for him for many years, using local authority services and an acquaintance for assistance.

She had also suffered with mental health issues and with challenges in her personal life.

She had spoken with acquaintances about struggling with the responsibility of caring for Dylan.

At around 22:00hrs the night before Dylan was found, she had sent a message to a friend stating: "I am done. Where are u?"

The friend arrived at around 00:44hrs and found that Freeman had booked two seats on a flight to Tel Aviv.

She said she had been receiving messages in her head and didn't allow the friend to go into Dylan's room.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding, lead investigator, said: "This has been an incredibly sad incident to investigate.

"Foremost our thoughts are with Dylan and his family, who continue to feel his untimely loss and will do so for a long time to come.

"I would like to thank my team of detectives, who have worked so diligently and professionally during this harrowing case.

"I would also like to acknowledge the selfless actions of my response colleagues who attended the scene on that night and tried in vain to save Dylan's life."

A date for sentencing has not yet been set.