Ipswich mum of five charged for “disgraceful” assault on three-year-old daughter

A young Ipswich mother of five had her children taken from her after a frustrated assault on her three-year-old.

An Ipswich mum in her 20s has faced court after a “disgraceful” assault on her three-year-old daughter.

She pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court on July 8, 2022 to assault occasioning bodily harm as well as disobeying the speed limit, driving without a licence and failure to appear in accordance with undertaking.

The court heard that on March 10, 2022 in Ipswich, the woman was trying to get her five children out of her car, while her three-year-old daughter was misbehaving and striking her younger sister.

The woman became increasingly frustrated, and began throwing objects around the car — without regards to direction.

The court heard the mother threw a school shoe which hit the three-year-old in the face, causing discolouration and a cut around her eye.

There was also dried blood under the little girl’s nose and a scratch across her face.

Magistrate Grace Kahlert said the way the woman responded was “extremely inappropriate”.

“For a mother to do that to her child is just disgraceful,” she said.

The woman was further charged with speeding on May 5, 2022 in Rocklea after her licence had been suspended by a court order.

The woman’s lawyer Shannon Chen explained she was depressed and driving to her friend’s house for help.

Finally, on June 6, 2022, the woman failed to attend court in accordance with her bail.

The court heard that since the assault, all five of the woman’s children were taken from her by Child Safety, and split up in three different placements.

Ms Chen explained that the woman had essentially been a single mother for the past seven years, and received very little support from the children’s fathers.

Ms Chen said the woman didn’t have a significant support network and was medicated for depression.

“My client has expressed she is extremely remorseful of what happened,” said Ms Chen.

She said the woman had been engaging in parenting courses and is progressing well with the child safety program.

“I can see that you are extremely remorseful – as you should be for doing something so disgraceful to your little girl,” said Magistrate Kahlert.

“It is more serious offending because it is not a situation where [the victim] can be in any way responsible for instigating or causing the assault — and they’re also more vulnerable because they can’t protect themselves.”

Taking into account the woman’s progress with parenting courses and the additional punishment of being separated from her children, Magistrate Kahlert sentenced the woman to 18 months probation.

She was also disqualified from driving for two years.

She was convicted but not further punished for the speeding charge, and convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Ipswich mum of five charged for “disgraceful” assault on three-year-old daughter