Rayna Christensen and Christopher Hidden plead guilty to four counts of child neglect

A Balaklava couple are behind bars after pleading guilty to allowing their children to live in squalid conditions, telling the court they were in a “dark situation”.

A Balaklava mother was reduced to tears when a magistrate revoked her and her husband’s bail, after their children were found living in “squalid” conditions.

Rayna Yvette Isabella Christensen, 35, and Christopher Daniel Hidden, 39, appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after pleading guilty to four counts of child neglect.

The court heard Christensen and Hidden failed to provide suitable lighting and toilets to their children, despite a number opportunities from support services.

In her sentencing submissions, the police prosecutor told the court the indoor toilet of their property was not functional, and their outdoor toilet, located in the back yard, was only semi-functional.

“There were issues with water flushing through that toilet, the secondary toilet out in the backyard was totally clogged up … apparently clogging up every two to three days,” the prosecutor said.

Rayna Christensen and Christopher Hidden plead guilty to four counts of child neglect.

“The defendant (Christensen) is heard saying on the disc that she doesn’t allow the children to play outside due to the risk of snakes, but they need to access the toilet.”

The court heard a report was made after one of the children made a comment about “not liking to shower” because the lights didn’t work.

“It’s quite clear by the footage, they are not acknowledging their behaviour and the impact it had on the children,” said the prosecutor.

Despite having no relevant history, prosecution asked for a term of imprisonment due to the squalor found inside and outside of the home.

“Out of 10, it would be a seven on the worst I’ve seen,” said the prosecutor. “Continuing to live in denial is not okay.”

Magistrate Jayanthi Pandya gave the couple – who represented themselves – an opportunity to make their own submissions to the court.

Hidden, a maintenance man at the Balaklava Racing Club, said he and his wife had been struggling at the time of the offending, calling it a “dark situation”.

“We were overwhelmed, we acknowledge that it wasn’t good enough,” Hidden said.

“Physically and mentally we didn’t see a change in them at the time but it probably did impact them.”

Through tears, Christensen told the court despite their negligence, the children “were always fed”.

“I cooked meals all the time, they always had snacks in their hands,” she said.

“The house was condemned before we moved into it, we just weren’t aware … I would never have moved in.”

Magistrate Pandya told the court she would need some time to review the footage, revoking the couple’s bail and remanding them in custody.

The couple will return for sentencing later this month.