Toowoomba region mum fronts court for punching son in head three times

A Toowoomba region mother was sentenced for punching her child in the head three times after the 13-year-old tipped out her alcoholic drink and then refused to hand over his Xbox.

Picture: File

A Toowoomba region mother was sentenced to a 12 month community-based order after she pleaded guilty to assaulting her 13-year-old son.

The woman, who was in her late 20s at the time of the offence, entered her plea to one charge of assault occasioning bodily harm before the Toowoomba District Court on Wednesday, March 26.

Legally, the woman cannot be identified to protect the identity of her son.

The court heard before the assault occurred at the woman’s home, she had been drinking and arguing with her ex-partner during a child drop off.

The working mother’s anger turned towards her 13-year-old son when he tipped out her alcoholic drink.

The Toowoomba region woman had no conviction recorded after pleaded guilty to Assault occasioning bodily harm at the Toowoomba District Court in March 2025.

Crown prosecutor Abby Kong said the woman initially locked the young teenager out of the house, warning him not to come inside or else he would be “bashed”.

However, the physical altercation occurred in the teen’s room as he was backing his belongings.

Ms Kong said during a heated argument where the woman demanded the boy hand over his phone and Xbox.

She said the woman threw three punches, all hitting the boy in the head, after he had pushed her.

He then ran and locked himself in a room with his younger sibling until a friend of his father picked them up.

The teen told police he only suffered minor pain, however there was swelling to the side of his head.

Shortly after, the woman, who has no criminal history, was charged and released on bail.

Ms Kong said the child’s victim impact statement showed that the assault had a significant impact on his mental health and schooling, noting whenever his mum got mad, he feared it would happen again.

The court heard despite the woman enduring a highly traumatic upbringing/adulthood, and subsequent mental health issues, she held a number of well-regarded roles within the community and had never been before the courts before.

Judge Benedict Power KC told the woman her offending was very serious, however it would be taken into account that she was under extreme stress at the time, which contributed to her losing control.

He noted she had since mended her relationship with her son, noting she had to fight to have contact with him because her bail conditions included a no-contact rule.

The family court investigation found she was a fit and proper person to care for her children, which Judge Power said showed the incident was an anomaly.

Judge Power said the woman’s employer wrote a letter of support to the court stating she on occasion trusted the woman to care for her children as she showed herself to be loving, caring, and kind.

She was sentenced to a 12-month probation order and had no conviction recorded.

Originally published as Toowoomba region mum fronts court for punching son in head three times