Ipswich mum charged and bailed for swath of child abuse charges

An Ipswich mum has appeared in court on several child abuse charges, including torture, almost two years after police uncovered the alleged offending.

Silhouette of unrecognisable sad child. Generic iStock image.

An Ipswich mum has been granted bail after allegedly torturing, assaulting, and grievously harming her adopted children.

The woman, who is in her 50s and cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested charged on December 17, for child abuse offences alleged to have occurred before February 2021.

She stands charged with two counts of torture, two counts of grievous bodily harm, two counts of failing to supply the necessaries of life, and four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed/in company.

At her Ipswich Magistrate’s Court bail application on January 19, the court heard the police uncovered her alleged offending in February, 2021.

Proceedings did not commence at that time but her adopted children, and alleged victims, were transferred into the custody of the Department of Child Safety.

Her lawyer told the court the woman presented a low risk of reoffending, as she could only contact or communicate with her children with permission from the department.

She said the woman had engaged in counselling and parenting courses over the last two years, and the department hadn’t had any concerns with any of the woman’s supervised meetings with her children in that time.

“(The woman) has been working with Child Safety over the last few years with the overall goal of reunification of the children to her,” she said.

She also argued there had clearly been no objection to her client’s bail in 2021, given the delays in commencing proceedings.

Magistrate Jason Schubert said the charges were serious in nature but he was satisfied bail would be appropriate given the woman’s lack of criminal history and the fact the children were no longer in her care.

Bail was granted, on the condition the woman surrender her passport and does not contact or approach any of the victim children unless supervised by child safety.

The matter was adjourned for committal mention of February 10, 2023.