TikTok mum accused of drugging baby for social media clicks granted bail
A high-profile Queensland TikTok influencer accused of drugging her baby for social media clicks will be released on bail later today.
QLD News
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A TikTok mum will be released on bail later today, despite claims she poisoned her own baby for social media clicks.
The 34-year-old, who cannot be named, appeared via video link at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where Deputy Chief Magistrate Stephen Courtney explained his reasons for granting her bail.
The woman is expected to be released on bail from a correctional facility later today, under strict conditions she have no physical contact with her baby.
Mr Courtney told the court he had “wrestled” with defence and prosecution submissions delivered at a bail application on Tuesday, but ultimately was convinced the woman had shown cause why her detention in custody was not justified.
The court heard the woman was alleged to have administered unprescribed medications to her baby over a Two-and-a-half month period for financial gain, social media recognition or both.
It is alleged that the woman filed scripts for the drug Carbamazepine and continued administering it to her baby, who was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis complex, despite instruction from the child’s doctors to cease use of the drug.
Mr Courtney said it’s alleged the woman’s conduct placed the child’s health at direct risk and may have resulted in unnecessary surgery.
“Between August and October of 2024, the child suffered significant medical episodes, those including seizures, periods of unexplained altered periods of consciousness described as being in a coma-like state, abnormal heart rhythms and a cardiac arrest,” Mr Courtney said.
He said doctors suspected intracranial tumours were responsible, resulting in a “high risk brain surgery”, but later drug screening revealed “arguably dangerous levels” of unprescribed medications.
The court heard a doctor’s preliminary opinion was that “some or all” of the baby’s medical episodes may be the result of the unprescribed drugs.
Mr Courtney said there was evidence the woman had admitted to the child’s father that she had given the baby drugs using the nasal tube on October 3.
The court heard that by October 2024, the woman had received $60,000 from a GoFundMe campaign - which the online fundraising platform has since refunded.
“That alleged conduct is clearly offensive to any right-thinking person, but the community anger triggered by the allegations is not directly relevant to the question of bail.”
He said he had “wrestled” with the idea of remanding someone with no criminal history in custody, under circumstances where a trial wasn’t likely to occur for an estimated two or three years.
“I am satisfied it is a strong police case the defendant administered unprescribed drugs to her daughter,” Mr Courtney said.
“If convicted, the sentence I think would be several years with actual time being served.”
But he explained he could not deny bail simply because he believed there to be a strong Crown case or that a person would likely be sentenced to time in custody.
The woman is charged with five counts of administering poison with intent to harm, three counts of preparation to commit crimes with dangerous things, and one count each of torture, making child exploitation material and fraud.
Mr Courtney said the prosecution had argued the woman posed an unacceptable risk of interfering with witnesses or endangering the safety and welfare of her child.
But he said the strongest evidence in the Crown case could not be altered or interfered with.
Mr Courtney said this evidence included drug screening results and hospital footage which allegedly showed the woman turning the camera away as she covered the child with a blanket and interfered with the nasal tube.
She was granted bail under conditions she only have supervised video or audio contact with the child, and have limited contact with the child’s father – who is not accused of any wrongdoing.
The matter was adjourned for mention on February 17 at Brisbane Magistrates Court.
“Do you understand that any suggestion, any hint of these conditions being breached, you’ll be sitting in custody I would have thought for a couple of years pending a trial,” Mr Courtney asked the woman.
The woman, who had sat calmly with her arms crossed throughout proceedings, replied: “absolutely, understood”.
It’s expected she will be released from custody later on Wednesday.
Originally published as TikTok mum accused of drugging baby for social media clicks granted bail