Northumberland woman guilty of cruelty to children

Jul 4 2009 by Rob Kennedy, The Journal

The woman, of Northumberland, had adopted the two children in 2004. At the time the youngsters were aged nine and six.

Concerns were raised for the youngsters last year and the woman was cautioned for cruelty then.

That led to the children being interviewed and sparked the charges the woman appeared in court for. The children made various unfounded allegations, including that she had put their heads under the water in the bath and had pulled their hair.

But she only pleaded guilty to two charges on the basis she had slapped them, put them to bed early, washed their hair too roughly and made them cry.

She was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £960 costs.

Caroline Goodwin, defending, said: “Before the adoption she expressed doubts but was given an ultimatum by her husband.

“The children had behavioural difficulties which she found difficult to manage.

“There may have been inappropriate parenting, perhaps bullying and threatening, but there was no sadistic infliction of pain on them.”