DMITRY RASHUNY/UNSPLASH
A mother failed to seek medical attention for her toddler who suffered fractures to his ribs, legs and feet, as well as burns to his scalp, eyes and face. (File photo).
A mother has admitted not seeking immediate medical attention for her toddler who suffered 14 fractures all over his body, as well as serious burns and bruises.
The woman, whose name is suppressed, pleaded guilty to two representative charges of assaulting a child (manually) and another charge of ill-treatment and neglect of a child at the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday. She was convicted on those charges by Judge Mark Callaghan.
The assault charges related to punching and smacking two of her children when they misbehaved, while the neglect charge related to medical attention not being sought for the toddler who suffered serious injuries, including 14 fractures. Medical reports said the injuries were “intentional”.
Judge Callaghan remanded her on electronically monitored bail for sentencing in October.
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Around April 12, 2021, the toddler suffered full thickness burns to his finger, scalp and forehead that were consistent with cigarette burns, the summary of facts said.
The mother was aware of the injuries due to text messages she sent to acquaintances where she said she planned to seek medical attention for the child, but never did, the summary said.
On May 3, 2021, the toddler suffered significant burns to his cheeks, upper lip, nose, eyelids, eyes, neck and chest caused by an unknown hot liquid.
ALDEN WILLIAMS/Stuff
The mother admitted to assault and neglect of her children at the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday.
His mother was aware of the significant pain he was in but did not seek medical attention, the summary said. Text messages she sent said the child was “up every 10 minutes crying”.
Medical attention was finally sought for the toddler on May 4, 2021 at 5.50pm.
His mother told medical staff he woke that day with a rash on his face and chest, and said she noticed he was not able to bear any weight on his left leg. She said he fell off a coffee table the previous week but had been bearing weight since then, just not on that particular day.
Bruising and swelling was observed on the child’s lower left leg, and he could not open his eyes due to the burns on his face.
He was transported to Christchurch Hospital that evening due to the severity of his injuries.
The mother told doctors the injuries appeared spontaneously.
She said his leg became swollen on the morning of May 4 after he fell off the table the week previous, but that he could bear weight on it in the days in between. He also bruised his forehead.
Bruises to the child’s back were from hand, foot and mouth disease, the mother told doctors.
The treating paediatrician’s view was that many of the injuries were intentionally inflicted, court documents said. This was based on the number of injuries, their location and an inadequate explanation.
The toddler had 14 fractures including to the tibia and fibula (lower leg), feet, ribs, spine and pelvis.
X-rays suggested three of the fractures occurred within 10 days of the child being admitted to hospital, while five fractures showed signs of healing, meaning it was likely they occurred at least 10 days before.
The timing of the final six fractures was unclear.
The paediatrician said the child would have been in ongoing significant pain from the fractures.
They also said the fractures were likely caused over at least two separate incidents, were uncommon fractures in toddlers and did not commonly occur from falling.
Many of the child’s injuries were “likely inflicted”.
Judge Callaghan ordered full submissions on name suppression be filed to court before sentencing.
The woman will be sentenced in October.
