More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A mum was so drunk she fell on top of her three-year-old son in front of a social worker, a court has heard.
The woman, from Herne Bay, had drunk two bottles of wine in the evening and had “started on another” after waking at 6am the following morning.
The alcoholic, who cannot be named due to a reporting restriction put in place to protect her son, had a pre-arranged visit booked that day with a social worker who found her in a heavily intoxicated state and incapable of looking after a child.
Margate Magistrates’ Court heard how police were called when the the woman became hostile, but she was then aggressive towards the officers.
It was while they spoke to her that she fell onto her son when leaning forward to play with him on the floor.
She was arrested and the child, who was unharmed, was taken away to stay with a close relative.
Roger Davies, defending, says the mother is hugely remorseful and became very upset during police interview when shown footage from the arresting officer’s body camera of her screaming and swearing in front of her son.
“She immediately said it was unacceptable behaviour,” said Mr Davies.
“This was a single incident in a short time by someone who has shown such remorse.
“(Falling on her son) was involuntary. It was not wilful.”
He said the mother, who suffers mental health problems, including depression, had not consumed alcohol for eight weeks prior to the incident.
It was also heard she had spent last summer in privately funded rehab to try to turn things around, but felt it was not long enough to help her overcome her drinking problem, which started when she was younger following a childhood trauma.
She continued to seek help through Foreward Trust, a charity helping people with alcohol dependency, but relapsed.
The court heard how her son, who was placed on the child protection register last year, is still safe to continue living with her.
'She immediately said it was unacceptable behaviour...' - Roger Davies, defence
The mother, who cried throughout the court proceedings on Thursday (March 14), admitted to have wilfully assaulted, ill treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed the child in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to health.
She was given a 12-month community order, with a six-month alcohol treatment requirement.
She must also undertake 15 rehab activity days.
Magistrate Steven Glynn-Williams said there were a number of worrying factors in the case and that her relapse was perhaps a cry for help.
Referring to the rehabilitation requirements, he told the woman to learn from them.
