A UTTOXETER mother told how she is struggling being apart from her daughter after admitting battering and verbally abusing her.
The woman, who is in her 20s, pleaded guilty to assaulting her eight-year-old daughter, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, at Burton Magistrates’ Court.
Alka Marston, prosecuting, told the court the girl had arranged to go to a friend’s for a sleepover on August 18 but her mother did not want her to as her friend’s family had dogs and sometimes the mother became paranoid.
The defendant smashed two cups on the floor before her daughter threw a rubber at her, aiming for the wall, which made her mother lose her temper.
It resulted in toys and clothes being thrown out of windows before she dragged the girl upstairs — hitting and punching her on the arm and leg.
The child was then locked in her room and as she tried to get out the door was opened and she fell onto a rocking chair.
The daughter also ended up with a hand print on her leg and tried to stop her mother by biting and kicking.
The incident was reported to police by a neighbour who is a PCSO after he heard banging, screaming, shouting and crying from the house. The defendant was heard being abusive to her daughter, he saw items outside the home and became extremely concerned for the child’s welfare.
In a police interview the defendant admitted locking her daughter in the bedroom, throwing the toys out of a window and smacking the girl’s bottom and arm.
She said they were both shouting and it was punishment for the girl not tidying her room.
She said she would not hurt her daughter.
John Skinner, defending, said it was clear the mother was a vulnerable person after suffering from alcohol and drug abuse, which included heroin, and having a daughter at an early age as a single parent.
He said: “There are mental health issues and it is clear to me there is a degree of disassociation.
She is not a person who finds it easy to trust people or express strong emotions but that does not mean she does not have them, particularly towards her daughter.
“She is clearly struggling being apart from her daughter. She has made no attempt to blame her daughter and bitterly regrets her actions.” The child is currently staying with the defendant’s mother and she gets to see her regularly.
The drink and drug problem was now under control but there were still issues that needed addressing.
Magistrates handed her a community order with 12 months supervision and costs of £85.
