An Ashford mother claimed she didn’t treat her 10-year-old daughter for head lice... because the child didn’t like having her hair combed!

The 31-year-old women failed repeatedly to treat the condition – until she was charged with being cruel to the children, aged 10 and 12 years by neglecting them.

She admitted two offences and was given a 12-month community order in which she also has to do 120 hours of unpaid work.

But a judge has ruled that she can’t be named in public – to protect the children’s identity.

Prosecutor Abigail Husbands told Canterbury Crown Court that the children had “an ongoing” problem with head lice since January 2010.

“The 10-year-old was at one time hospitalised due to open wounds on her head which had become infected due to the amount of lice.

“It would appear that her mother had effectively given up fighting because the child didn’t like her hair being combed. That resulted in her having scabby sores on the crown of her head.”

The prosecutor said that the child complained of pain when she combed her hair which had become “matted due to the number of lice eggs in it”.

The mother’s estranged partner told how he saw lice “crawling all over a pillow” where his 12-year-old daughter had been sleeping when she stayed at his home.

Miss Husbands added: “He told the mother to treat both girls for head lice, but that didn’t seem to happen and the school nurse became involved and spoke to the mother.

“She went to the home, which was very untidy with stains on the floor and carpet,” she added.

Dominic Webber, defending, said she had lost two close relatives and had miscarried “and it was in that context she found it very to cope”.

Judge Adele Williams told her: “You did not care for the children sufficiently to prevent them from suffering continuously from head lice, which I have no doubt caused them embarrassment and distress.
“I accept that at the time you were experiencing emotional difficulties.

"Happily since that time you have taken advantage of the help offered you by social services and you now have got your life back on an even keel.”