Members of public come to rescue as mum abandons babies for pokies

A mother has fronted court for leaving her two young children, aged just one and two years old, alone in a car while she went to a pub to play the pokies.

A bayside mother who left her one and two-year-old children in a car to play pokies for the better part of an hour shocked several community members into action, a court has heard.

The 38-year-old Wynnum West woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday to two counts of leaving a child under 12 unattended.

The court heard the defendant on Tuesday, May 11 last year left her one and two-year-old toddlers in her parked car between Bunnings and the Victoria Point Tavern in Victoria Point at 4.15pm.

Numerous members of the public observed her “distressed” children who were left unattended for 38 minutes.

Management at both Bunnings and the tavern were alerted by community members, the court heard.

A mother has fronted court for leaving two young children in a car while she played the pokies. PICTURE: FILE

Police prosecutor Sergeant Angela Tetley said the defendant’s behaviour was captured on CCTV and would have resulted in bystanders smashing the vehicle’s windows had they been left closed.

Sgt Tetley noted child services had since removed the children from the woman’s care.

Defence solicitor Bruce Johnstone said his client was “incredibly embarrassed and emotional” in regard to her offending.

The court heard the mother had no criminal history and had never behaved in such a manner before.

Mr Johnstone further noted his client was currently homeless and had been in a seven-year “extremely toxic” relationship at the time of the offending.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta noted the defendant’s charges were rarely seen at court when she sentenced her to 18 months’ probation.

No conviction was recorded.