Rockhampton woman in court for cruelty to child under 16 years

Before she’d even turned two, a Queensland girl had already lived through unthinkable neglect which began the moment her mother failed to register her birth, a court has heard.

A toddler suffered a lice infestation for more than a month, leading to her mother being charged with child cruelty. Istock image

A Central Queensland mother will be sentenced for child cruelty after her toddler’s hair became so riddled with lice, scabs covered her head and paramedics had to intervene.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, fronted Rockhampton District Court on Thursday after previously pleading guilty on September 1 to one count of cruelty to child under 16 years.

Crown prosecutor Matthew Sutton said the woman had failed to obtain medical treatment for her 20-month-old daughter’s head lice infestation.

The court heard the girl had head lice for more than a month, between August 24 and October 2, 2021.

The lice was said to be so bad her hair was “falling out in clumps” and there were scabs on her head.

“That head lice infestation got to the point that paramedics intervened,” Mr Sutton said.

“Her head had to be shaved.”

He said the woman “lied constantly about the offending”.

“The defendant created false narratives about what had happened,” he said.

“She suggested a paramedic was the one being dishonest.”

The court heard the woman had previously been convicted for failing to register that child’s birth and the child had been taken away from her.

“She doesn’t have any children in her care,” he said.

Mr Sutton argued the woman’s inaction to treat the girl’s head lice was deliberate, which was disputed by defence barrister Liam Kennedy.

“It’s not as if you could look at the child and not notice the head lice,” Mr Sutton said.

“She would have been aware of it and lied to police about it.

“She deliberately didn’t act.”

He submitted the woman be sentenced to a wholly suspended term of imprisonment.

Judge Jeff Clarke adjourned the woman’s case to September 18 for a mention to allow the parties to work out the dispute and provide any further evidence.

He also allowed the woman to remain on bail.