A four-year-old boy became obsessed with violent video games such as Jeff the Killer after being left home alone by his mother.

The youngster is said to have become aggressive and angry after the incident, which only came to light when he Facetimed his grandmother from under a duvet.

His mother, who claimed he was being looked after by a friend, has narrowly avoided being sent to jail.

She can’t be named to protect the identity of her son, but was charged with neglect and pleaded guilty on the day she was due to stand trial.

The woman, 26, appeared before magistrates in Medway for sentencing. The court heard that the child was obsessed with horror video games and since the incident the child had become angry and aggressive.

The mother was living in Strood with her child when he was left alone on March 24 this year.

His grandmother had contacted him via FaceTime on his iPad to see how he was and found him crying and hiding under the duvet as he was scared and his mum was not in.

She drove to his home but couldn’t get in and could hear him crying.

Police went to the scene at 4pm and, after the child told them his mother had gone to the doctors, they found her at 10.20pm. She told police she had been at work.

Debbie Jones, prosecuting, said: “She told police she’d left him in the care of a friend, but this person could not be located.”

The court also heard how cleaning products including bleach were found in an unlocked cupboard under the sink and a cat litter tray inside the flat was full of faeces.

“When the child was asked about the incident, he said his mum had left him on his own but he said he knew her friend,” said Miss Jones.

“When the mother was interviewed she denied the offence and said she’d arranged for her friend to look after him.

“She accepts responsibility today on that basis and has no previous convictions.”

Magistrates were told the child had not been sleeping well since the incident and had been angry and aggressive afterwards.

Miss Jones added the child’s father, who was separated from the mother, said his son had also become obsessed with violent games such as Alien versus Predator and Jeff the Killer and that he was concerned for his son’s emotional well-being.

Robert Weston, defending, said the mum was now living with her parents and has mental heath problems.

It was also revealed she has another child, who her parents have custody of.

Magistrates jailed the mum for 10 weeks, suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to pay £300 costs.