WESTLOCK – A young mother pleaded guilty in Westlock Court of Justice Aug. 14 to using excessive force when hitting her two young children with a wooden spoon.
The woman, who can’t be identified due to a court-ordered publication ban to protect the children, was given a conditional discharge and placed on probation. This means her record won’t show any convictions if she abides by the court-ordered conditions for 18 months.
She was initially charged with assault with a weapon but the charges were amended Wednesday to assault.
Court heard that the children are no longer living with her.
The Crown said it was the woman’s first offence but it was a crime of violence against young children.
Defence said the woman was the victim of domestic abuse, is embarrassed with the situation, and pleaded guilty to spare her two young children from testifying.
Judge Gordon Putnam told the accused that before she was charged with this offence, she had gone about 30 years with no criminal charges, has been sober for almost a year, and is headed in the right direction.
