A mum who gave her young daughter a tattoo against her will was told by a judge she “should have known better”.

In what was described as an “unusual” offence of assault causing actual bodily harm, Maidstone Crown Court heard the woman and her partner were tattooing each other in October 2021 when the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was asked if she wanted one.

Despite telling her mum 'No', the child was ordered to ‘Come here’ by her parent, who had been drinking.

Using a tattoo gun, a design measuring the size of a 50 pence coin was then inked out on the youngster’s body, said prosecutor Naomi Perry.

“The little girl complained she did not want the tattoo but was told to shut up,” added Mrs Perry.

When later confronted about her behaviour following a family row, the 35-year-old replied: “It's my daughter, I can do what I want with her. It’s just a silly tattoo.”

She also accused the girl of lying about not wanting one.

A doctor who later examined the child confirmed the tattoo had penetrated seven layers of skin and was a permanent inking, said the prosecutor.

The woman was originally charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

However, this was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service after she admitted causing the less serious offence of ABH.

Christopher Martin, defending, said his client had had a “very troubling upbringing” and been subjected to domestic violence.

Imposing an 18-month community order, Recorder Edmund Fowler told the mum she had “done something rather foolish”.

“It's clear your daughter didn't want the tattoo and you had not considered her wishes,” he added. “You were in a position of trust and should have really known better.

“But it wasn't an assault carried out with hostile intent or with any intent to cause injury.”

As part of her sentence, she was ordered to undertake 25 rehabilitation activity sessions as well as a mental health treatment requirement.