Ipswich woman fronts court on child cruelty charge

An Ipswich magistrate said in the past 29 years he had only ever seen one child cruelty matter which was worse than the one that came before him on Friday.

An Ipswich woman has fronted court after allegedly failing to provide adequate medical treatment to a seven-month-old, leading to “horrific” and “horrendous” injury.

The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her alleged victim, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Friday July 1, charged with one count of cruelty to children under 16 years and one of contravention of a probation order.

It is alleged the cruelty offence was carried out between October 31, 2019 and December 12, 2019.

The matter was scheduled to proceed to sentence on Friday, but after the magistrate presiding over the court expressed how “distressed” he was over the nature of the alleged offending it was adjourned.

Magistrate Paul Byrne said he was “disturbed” after reading the facts of the matter and was concerned that if he were to sentence the woman on Friday he would be sentencing a “psychopath”.

“Only one worse has come across my table in 29 years,” Mr Byrne said.

He said the injuries caused to the child were “horrendous” and asked defence solicitor Jarrod Bell if the woman had custody of the child alleged to be her victim, to which he responded she did part-time.

Prosecutor Jessica Beckman said the Crown did not allege that she caused the “horrific” injuries to the child but that her negligent actions made them worse.

The matter was adjourned for about two hours before returning to the same court.

Mr Bell told Mr Byrne that, given his distress, it may be appropriate he remove himself from the matter.

Mr Byrne said he believed the facts would distress “any thinking human being”.

The matter was adjourned and the woman’s bail was enlarged.

It will return to Ipswich Magistrates Court for committal-mention on Wednesday July 6.