A 12-year-old boy and his sister were living in such horrific conditions, the young boy wrote a desperate plea on the wall of his home hoping to be saved.
Tragically social workers missed the message, recommending 'no action' be taken, with the boy going blind in one eye as a result of his neglect.
This was despite multiple tip-offs from school staff.
The boy's mum and her boyfriend were eventually jailed in 2014, after the house was found to be littered with nappies, rotting food and faeces.
Colin Morris, the chairman of the Stockton-on-Tees Local Safeguarding Children Board said:
"There were too many missed opportunities, there should have been better communication – the public has the right to expect better.
"Had they done so, the outcomes would certainly have been far more positive and this has been acknowledged by the key agencies involved."
The boy is now living with extended family and is said to be making 'remarkable progress'.