A Dover mother - who brought a year old baby to court for a hearing - has been given a severe dressing down by a judge.

The woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - had been summoned to Canterbury Crown Court for a review into her case.

But before going into Court Six, she left three of her young children - including a baby, alone in a side room.

Judge Adele Williams said she was "horrified" adding: "It is the height of irresponsibility to bring a baby to this court with no-one to look after them. What on earth was she doing?"

When the woman, sitting in the dock, shrugged her shoulders at the rebuke, the Judge retorted: "And it's no good sighing!"

She later claimed she had been "let down" by a childminder on the morning of the hearing.

Judge Williams said: "Never again are you to bring children to court unless by an order from a judge."

She ruled that at all future hearings, the mother had to make proper childcare arrangements.

"Or Kent County Council will be informed!"

Her case was adjourned until later in the year.